GIFT  OF 


103 


1905 


c) 


rograrr\n\e 


EOF  THEE 


of  ^Louisiana 


From  FRANCE  to  the  UNITED  STATES. 


COMMEMORATION  BY  THE 

LOUISIANA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

AT  NEW  ORLEANS,    LA., 

December  18th,   19th  and  20th,   1903. 


[STORICAL     AND      STATISTICAL     DATA     OF     LOUISIANA    AND 
NEW    ORLEANS. 


ORLE 

ILLUSTRATED 


v  ^ 

Edited  and  Published  by 


JAM 


AUGUSTIIM, 


Assistant  Secretary  of  Committee  La.  H.  S.  in 
charge  of  celebration, 


BY  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  LOUISIANA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


PICAYUNE  JOB   PRINT. 


INTRODUCTION. 


In  March.  1S03.  Bonaparte  was  prepar 
ing  to  declare  war  \vith  England.  He  | 
knew  that  the  English,  fleet  was  about  ! 
to  attack  Xe\v  Oi leans. 

"The  English."  he  remarked  to  his  min 
isters,    "have    twenty    vessels    of    war    in    1 
the  Gulf  of   Mexieo,   and    I  have  not   one    j 
moment   to    lose   in   order   to  save   Louisi 
ana.    The    American    plenipotentiaries   are    i 
asking  for  only  one  city  in  Louisiana,  but 
1   consider  the   colony   as  already    lost   to 
France." 

A  few  days  later,  while  walking  in  the 
gardens  of  St.  Cloud  with  Barbe-Marbois, 
in  whom  he  had  more  confidence  than  in 
Talleyrand,  he  said: 

"Yon  have  charge  of  the  Treasury.  M. 
Marbois.  Well,  ask  one  hundred  million 
francs  and  let  the  United  States  take 
the  whole  of  Louisiana." 

Marbois  hazarded  some  words  of  re 
gret  for  the  colonists.  "Go  and  air  your 
theories  in  London,"  interrupted  Bona 
parte. 

The  price  finally  agreed  on  for  the 
cession  was  eighty  million  francs,  from 
which  twenty  millions  were  to  be  af 
fected  to  the  payment  of  indemnities  due 
by  France  to  citizens  of  the  United 
States." 

M.  Marbois  and  Mr.  Livingston  and  Mr. 
Monroe  signed  the  treaty  on  April  30, 
1803.  When  this  was  concluded,  the  Plen 
ipotentiaries  shook  hands. 

"We    have    lived    long."    remarked    Mr.     ; 
Livingston,   "but  this  is  the  most  import- 
nnt    achievement    of   our    whole    career." 
Remarkable   and    wonderful   work  it   was, 
indeed.     For.    by   the   expenditure   of   fif 
teen  million  dollars  the  United  States  ac 
quired  a  vast  an  I  fertile  expanse  of  conn- 
try— the    territory     of     Louisiana— out     of 
which  have  been  carved  the  whole  or  part 
of  the   present   States   of  Arkansas,   Colo 
rado.     Iowa.     Idaho,     Kansas.-    Louisiana,    i 
Montana.    Minnesota,   Missouri.   Nebraska,     | 
Oregon.     Washington.    Wyoming,    Dakota 
and  the  Indian  Territory. 

As    the    city    of    New   Orleans    was    the 
theatre    upon    which    the   varying   scenes 
of  the  transfer  of  1803  were  enacted,  and 
as  two  cessions  of  the  colony  had  previ 
ously    taken    place    in    this   very   city— in    j 
1769  from  France  to  Spain,  and  in  1803,  '| 
on    Nov.    30,    from    Spain    back   again   to 
France— it    is    eminently   proper   and    be 
fitting  that  in  commemoration  of  the  one 
hundredth    anniversary    of    the    transfer 
to  this  Republic  of  Republics,  the  glorious    : 
United  States,  there  should  be  a  brilliant 
and    elaborate    programme    of    festivities 
and  public  functions. 


The  Louisiana  Historical  Society  ha*' 
been  preparing  for  months  for  a  memor 
able  celebration  of  the  Centennial  date. 
President  Alcee  Fortier  and  the  officer? 
and  members  have  shown  commendable 
zeal,  willingness  and  public  spirit,  am. 
they  have  at  last,  with  the  assistance  o' 
the  State  Legislature,  which  has  votec 
an  appropriation  in  aid  of  the  celebra 
tion,  and  with  the  approbation  of  ever; 
citizen,  made  ready  a  most  complete  or 
der  of  exercises  which  will  occupy  three- 
days:  Friday,  Dec.  18;  Saturday,  the  19th 
and  Sunday,  the  20th— the  latter  date- 
being  the  anniversary  of  the  transfer  o' 
the  colony  from  France  to  the  Unitec 
States. 

Representatives  of  France.  Spain  an<? 
of  the  United  States  will  be  guests  of 
honor,  and  will  take  part  in  the  pro 
ceedings.  Each  of  these  powers  will  also> 
be  represented  by  warships,  which  will- 
have  prominent  positions  in  the  nava. 
parade,  which  is  to  be  one  of  the  fea 
tures  of  the  first  day.  Friday,  the  18th.  " 

The  ceremonies  will  open  'Friday  noor: 
at  the  City  Hall,  when  the  Mayor  and 
City  Council  will  give  a  reception  to  tht- 
distinguished  guests,  and  then  proceed  ii: 
carriages  to  the  landing  at  Canal  Street, 
where  the  party  will  go  on  board  the 
United  States  steamship  Stranger,  of  the 
Louisiana  Naval  Reserves,  flagship  or' 
the  naval  review.  That  part  of  th-- 
programme  will  conclude  at  4:30  p.m. 
At  night  the  guests  will  be  given  a 
reception  at  the  French  Opera  House, 
half  an  hour  before  the  opening  of  the 
colonial  ball,  which  is  to  be  in  charge, 
of  the  ladies  of  the  Historical  Society, 
the  costumes  to  be  worn  by  the 
guests  at  the  ball  and  by  th>. 
participants  in  the  dances  are  tc. 
l>e  of  the  last  century.  The  musical 
programmed,  arranged  by  Prof.  Geo.  L 
O'Connell,  of  this  city,  a  musician,  com 
poser  and  orchestra  leader,  who  wil: 
be  the  director  for  that  occasion,  La;' 
been  divided  into  three  parts:  First,  COB 
certed;  second,  old  dances;  third,  nev 
dances. 

All  of  the  first  part  will  consist  o!1 
selections  from  the  masters  who  flour 
ished  100  years  ago.  Part  second,  open 
ing  the  ball,  will  begin  with  a  march 
of  Mozart  (1791),  followed  by  a  minuei 
of  Mozart  (1792),  and  a  gavotte  of  the 
time  of  Louis  XV.  Part  third  will  be 
a  medley  of  modern  dances,  three  or 
four  promenade  numbers  and  an  inter 
mezzo  arranged  by  Prof.  O'Connell,  fcav 
ing  a  few  old-time  Creole  son^s  an.! 


airs.  The  minuet  and  the  gavotte,  dances 
of  the  last  century  in  Franco,  will  be 
presented  by  fifty  couples  clad  in  the 
ball  co.stume  of  100  years  ago.  Special 
attention  \vill  be  paid  to  the  "graude 
'Utree,"  or  the  beginning  of  the  ball. 
This  part  of  the  programme  has  been, 
rehearsed  with  care,  so  that  the  be 
holder  will  believe  that  he  has  sudden 
ly  been  brought  into  a  scene  in  the  pal 
ace  of  Versailles,  or  in  the  Tuilleries, 
during  one  of  the  brilliant  court  recep- 
:ions.  The  stage  and  parquette  of  the 
Opera  House  will  be  transformed  into 
a  huge  ballroom.  The  interior  will  be 
superbly  decorated  with  flags,  emblems, 
dowers  and  plants,  symbolic  of  the 
epoch  sought  to  be  presented.  The  am 
phitheatre  boxes  and  "loges"  will  be 
occupied  by  the  guests,  the  nondancers, 
-vho  will  enjoy  the  sight  of  a  colonial 
ball  in  full  sway. 

During  the  ball  a  dance  will  be  spe 
cially  given  in  honor  of  each  of  the 
Powers  which  successively  owned  Louisi 
ana,  and  the  airs  of  three  ivational 
liymns  will  be  played  by  the  orchestra: 
"La  Marseillaise,"  in  honor  of  France; 
"Des  Riego,"  in  honor  of  Spain;  and 
"The  Star-Spangled  Banner,"  hi  honor 
of  the  United  States. 

Saturday,  Dec.  19,  the  guests  and  the 
officers  of  the  Society  will  assemble  at 
the  City  Hall  at  11  o'clock  in  the  morn 
ing,  and  after  partaking  of  a  lunch,  they 
will  depart  for  the  Archbishop's  Palace 
to  open  the  Colonial  Museum.  Governor 
Heard  and  his  aids,  Mayor  Capdevielle, 
the  members  of  the  City  Council,  the 
foreign  representatives,  and  the  guests 
will  be  in  carriages,  escorted  by  the 
First  Troop  of  Cavalry.  The  Colonial 
Museum,  occupying  the  parlors  of  the 
archiepiscopal  residence,  will  be  formally 
opened  by  President  Alcee  Fortier,  Pres 
ident  of  the  Louisiana  Historical  So 
ciety.  This  museum  will  contain  pre 
cious  relics  and  mementoes  of  other  days 
—books,  documents,  weapons,  articles 
of  wear,  and  a  hundred  other  interesting 
things—  lo-aned  to  the  Museum  Commit 
tee  by  descendants  of  the  ancient  set 
tlers.  It  will  be  kept  open  sixty  days, 
or  until  after  the  Mardi  Gras  of  1904. 

Leaving  the  Museum,  the  Governor, 
the  Mayor,  the  officers  and  members  of 
the  Historical  Society  and  guests  will 
go  to  the  Cabildo,  and  in  front  of  the 
Place  d'Arines,  if  the  weather  is  cle*ar, 
they  will  begin  a  programme  of  ceremo 
nies.  If  the  elements  are  not  propitious 
the  programme  will  take  place  in  the 
courtroom  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  the 
Cabildo  building.  The  Continental 
Guards  will  act  as  guard  of  honor  to 
the  particip-ants  in  the  proceedings. 
Prof.  Alcee  Fortier  will  introduce  Gov 
ernor  Heard,  who  is  to  preside,  and  who 
will  introduce  the  speakers. 


M.  Jusserand,  French  Ambassador  at 
Washington,  wlil  be  the  first  speaker. 
He  will  be  followed  by  the  representa 
tive  of  the  Spanish  Government.  Then 
the  representative  of  the  United  States 
will  speak,  and  the  concluding  speech 
will  l»c  made  by  Hon.  D.  R.  Francis, 
President  of  the  St.  Louis  Exposition. 

At  -2  p.m.  the  Governor  will  review 
the  troops  from  the  central  balcony  of 
the  Cabildo. 

Saturday  night  will  take  place  a  "gala" 
performance  at  the  French  Opera  House. 
Bizet's  opera  "Carmen"  will  be  sung  by 
the  same  cast  which  presented  it  when 
first  given  this  season.  The  selection  of 
"Carmen"  was  done  advisedly  because 
it  is  a  Frnech  production,  containing 
Spanish  airs  and  scenes  in  Spain,  and 
staged  in  an  American  city.  Thirty  boxes 
have  been  reserved  for  seating  the  dis 
tinguished  guests  of  the  Louisiana  His 
torical  Society. 

The  next  day,  Sunday,  a  solemn  pon 
tifical  high  mass  and  "Te  Deum"  will  be 
sung  at  the  St.  Louis  Cathderal  at  11 
o'clock.  His  Grace  Archbishop  Chapelle 
will  officiate.  The  mass  will  be  sung 
by  a  picked  choir.  The  sermon  will  be 
preached  by  Rev.  Emmanuel  de  la  Mnr- 
iniere,  S.J.,  whose  eloquence  is  well 
known. 

At  the  close  of  the  mass  the  Society 
and  guests  will  proceed  to  the  Cabildo. 
where  the  treaty  between  France  and 
the  United  States  will  be  read.  Next 
the  proces-verbal  of  the  exact  proceed 
ings  of  Dec.  20,  1803,  in  the  Cabildo, 
when  Louisiana  was  transferred  by  the 
Colonial  Prefect,  M.  Laussat,  to  the  Com 
missioners  of  the  United  States,  Gover 
nor  W.  C.  C.  Claiborne  and  General 
Wilkinson,  will  be  read,  as  follows: 
Proces-verbal  of  the  delivery  of  Louisi 
ana;  address  of  Governor  Claiborne; 
proclamation  of  Governor  Claiborue. 

Then,  as  a  final  act,  the  officers  of  the 
Louisiana  Historical  Society,  the  chair 
men  of  committees,  guests,*  and  all  who 
have  taken  an  active  part  in  the  cere 
monies  of  the  day  will  sign  a  proces- 
verbal  attesting  to  the  holding  of  this 
celebration  in  the  Cabildo,  which  will 
be  kept  as  a  record  of  the  event. 

And  this  will  conclude  the  memorable 
programme,  lasting  three  days,  gotten  up 
by  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society  in 
honor  and  commemoration  of  the  centen 
nial  of  the  transfer  of  Louisiana. 

This  commemoration  will  be  the  most 
epochal  that  has  ever  occurred  in  this 
city  and  State.  It  will  have  not  only 
a  local,  but  a  national  as  well  as  aii 
international,  significance,  which  will 
enhance  the  prestige  of  the  Crescent  City 
as  the  cradle  of  the  most  illustrious  tra 
ditions,  aud  will  revive  memories  and 
reminiscences  of  the  colonial  days  and 
the  successive  declinations  of  French 
Spanish,  and  again  French  authorities 
until  in  1803  the  .flag  of  the  United 


States  floated,  by  right  of  purchase,  over 
the  immense  expanse  of  country,  out 
of  which  fifteen  Stales  have  been  carved. 


Committee    011    Celebration    of    tlie 
Transfer     of    Louisiana. 

Chairman — Pi  of.    Alcee    Fortier. 

Vice  Chairman — Hon.  James  S.  Zach- 
arie. 

Secretary— Charles    G.     Gill. 

Assistant  Secretary— James  M.  Augus 
tin. 

Meml:e:s— Dr.  E.  A.  Alderman,  "\Vm. 
P»eer,  Hon.  Jos.  A.  Breanx,  G.  Cusaclis, 
Charles  F.  Chiiborne,  H.  Garland  Dupre, 
Prof.  John  It.  Ficklen,  Charles  G.  Gill, 
Rev.  Max  Heller,  John  M.  Henshaw,  Hon. 
Wm.  Wirt  Howe,  Miss  Grace  King, 
Branch  King,  Dr.  L.  G.  Le  Benf,  Henry 
Renshavv.  T.  1'.  Thompson.  Hon.  Paul 
Capdevielle,  Bernard  McCloskey,  Charles 
T.  Soniat,  Thos.  McC.  Hyman,  Judge 
Charles  E.  Fciiner,  Page  M.  Baker,  Gen 
eral  Adolph  Meyer.  W.  O.  Hart,  J.  D. 
Hill,  H.  F.  Baldwin,  W.  J.  Waguespack, 
Rev.  H.  S.  Mariiig,  S.J.,  Colonel  Arseue 
Perilliat. 


T.    P.    THOMPSON. 
Chairman     Finance     Committee. 


Naval    Parade— Kram-h    M.    King,  'Chair 
man:   B'.-riiard   Mi  Clnskey,    Henry   McCail. 
Operatic     Performance — Charles    T.     ^o- 
niat,     Chairman;     Aisene     1'eriliiat,     Bus- 
siere   Koaen. 

Colonial  Exhibit— Gaspar  Cusaclis,  Chair 
man:  Mis*  Grace  King,  Henry  Renshaw, 
T.  P.  Thompson  and  Ashton  Phelps. 

Finance— T.  1*.  Thompson.  Chairman; 
Dr.  L.  G.  Le  Beuf,  W.  O.  Hart,  Garland 
Dupre  and  Hart  Newman. 

Cabildo  Committee— Prof.  Alcee  Fortier, 
Chairman;  C.  F.  Claiborne,  Charles  T. 
Soniat  anil  James  S.  Zacharie. 

Invitation— James  S.  Zacharie,  Chair 
man;  Miss  Grace  King  and  Joseph  A. 
Breaux. 

Pontifical  High  Mass-Rev.  H.  S.  Mar- 
ing.  Chairman;  W.  J.  Waguespack,  Henry 
Re;:sha\v  and  Felix  J.  1'uig. 

PIXVJS  Committee — J.  J.  McLoughlin, 
Chairman;  Colonel  J.  D.  Hill  and  T.  P. 
Thompson. 

Transportation  —  J.  J.  McLoughlin, 
Chairman;  James  S.  Zacharie. 

Commemorative  Medal  —  James  S. 
Zacharie,  Miss  Grace  King  and  Miss 
Jennie  Wilde. 

The  Executive  Committee  is  composed 
of  Prof.  Alcee  Fortier.  Chairman,  and 
the  Chairmen  of  the  various  committees. 


WORKING    COMMITTEES. 

Military  Review — Colonel  Arsene  Peril- 
Hat,  Chairman:  T.  McC.  ILyman.  James  S. 
Zacharie. 


C.    T.    SONIAT, 
On  Reception  Committee  at  Cabililo. 

Colonel  J.  D.  Hill  was  appointed  Chair 
man  of  a  special  committee  to  receive 
and  provide  accommodations  for  the  St. 
Louis  Exposition  representatives. 


.  .4.. 


NAPOLEON   BONAPARTE, 
The  E-amous  First  Consul  Who  Transferred  the  Territory. 


THE   FULL   PROGRAMME. 

Louisiana     Transfer     Centennial 

Celebration,  Dee.  IS,  1!*  and 

2O,    IDO.'t,    at    \ew    Or- 

leanH,   La. 

The  Bureau  of  Information  is  at  the 
St.  Charles  Hotel,  room  '2~>~,  where  -ill 
visitors  and  quests  are  requested  to  reg 
ister  their  names  and  city  addresses. 


Friday,   Dee.   IS,   1903. 


1  p.m.  —  International  naval  review  by 
tic  (iovrrnor  of  Louisiana  on  the  United 
States  gunboat  Stranger,  of  the  Louisi 
ana  Naval  Reserves,  and  salute  by  the 
fleet.  Visiting  men  ot'-war:  French 
cruiser  Jurieii  do  la  (iraviere.  Spanish 
cruiser  Ilio  de  la  1'lata.  I'nited  States 
cruiser  .Minneapolis,  United  States  gun 
boat  Topeka,  United  States  cruiser  Yaii- 
la  e  and  the  Ui.-ited  St-ites  trai!iii:j.;><hip. 


The  Governor's  flagship  will  bo  the 
United  States  steamer  .Stranger,  under 
command  of  Captain  J.  "W.  Bo.stick.  The 
Governor  and  his  party  will  board  the 
Stranger  at  the  foot  of  Canal  Street  at 
noon.  The  Stranger  will  then  steam 
clown  the  river,  going  to  a  convenient 
distance,  possibly  as  far  as  the  naval 
Hartford.  The  review  will  last  about  two 
hours. 

docks  or  the  barracks.  It  will  then  re 
turn  and  at  1  o'clock  will  IK-  abreast  of 
the  first  ship  of  the  fleet,  which  will 
anchor  in  a  line  in  the  center  of  the 
river.  As  the  Governor's  flagship  pass  AS 
slowly  along  the  line  it  will  Iv  sainted 
with  seventeen  guns  by  the  senior  of 
ficer  of  each  nationality,  the  Governor's 
ship  returning  the  s.ilute,  and  the  band 
on  board  the  Governor's  ship  playing 
the  national  air  of  the  ship  opposite 
which  it  happens  to  be.  This  revie\v 
will  be  coiu-huled  at  about  1:30  p.m. 
From  1:3<J  to  2:30  the  Governor's  ship 
will  take  a  run  i;p  the  river,  the  Gov 
ernor  entertaining  his  guests  with  re 
freshments  on  board  the  Stranger.  At 
2:30  p.m.  the  Stranger  will  anchor  ; 
abreast  of  the  line  of  warships,  when  the  j 
commanders  of  the  various  warships  will  | 
call  officially  on  the  Governor,  they  be 
ing  entertained  by  the  Governor  and  re 
freshments  provided.  At  the  coiu-lnsion 
of  these  calls  the  Governor  will  board 
the  launch  of  the  Commandant  of  the 
Naval  Station,  with  some  of  his  staff, 
and  will  return  the  calls  that  have  been 
made  upon  him.  This  will  probably 
take  until  5:30  or  G:30  in  the  evening. 
when  the  party  will  return  to  the  foot 
of  Canal  Street.  The  Governor  is  to  be 
accompanied  by  his  staff  on  board  of  the 
flagship,  and  his  staff  will  meet  him  at 
11:30  at  such  point  as  he  will  designate. 
One  or  more  boats  wKl  be  provided  which 
will  follow  his  flagship  during  the  re 
view  and  carry  the  overflow  of  gue.sts 
from  the  Stranger.  These  auxiliary 
boats  are  to  be  placed  in  charge  of  some 
of  the  Governor's  staff,  and  the  Commit 
tee  of  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society, 
who  will  have  charge  of  cnlcrtainin.<r 
the  guests  on  board  of  these  auxiliary 
vessels. 

HOSTER     OF     COMMISSIONED     OFFI 
CERS  OF   THE   UNITED   STATES 
STEAMER    STRANGER. 

Captain  J.   W.    Bostiek. 
Commander  J.  II.  McFarlane. 
Lieu  leant    Commander    R.    F.    Spangen- 
foerg. 

Lieutenant    Commander    J.    C.    Febiger. 
Lieutenant  G.   R.   Sheldon. 
Lieutenant  F.   Codman   Ford. 
Lieutenant  E.    P..    McKinney. 
Lieutenant  F.    K.    F.lasland. 
Lieutenant  Rushton   Foster. 
Lieutenant  Charles   I.   Kiehl. 
Lieutenant  Edmund   J.    Murphy. 


Lieutenant  Henry  R.   Carroll. 

Lieutenant  Ernest   D.   Ivy. 

Lieutenant  Thomas   S.   Collins. 

Lieutemuit  J.   S.   Barelli. 

Lieutenant  L.    M.    Gipson. 

Lieutenant  Junior  Hugh   Williams. 

Lieutenant  Junior  A.   C.    Carpenter. 

Lieutenant  Junior  Eugene   Chassaignac. 

Lieutemint  Junior  Frank  Weinberger. 

LL-Viteirant  Junior  Walter    L.    Abbott. 

Lieutenant  Junior  T.    D.    Miller. 

Liouteifant  Junior  W.   O.   Hudson. 

Lieutenant  Junior  J.   A.    Oakes. 

Lieutenant  Junior  Guy    A.    Smith. 

Ensign   Duval   Armstrong. 

Ensign  Edw.   A.    Gamard. 

Ensign  N.   J.   Hoey. 

Ensign   W.    S.    Deianey. 

Ensign'  A.    Cronai;. 

Surgeon,  Lieutenant  Commander  R.  A. 
Murchy. 

P.   A.    Surgeon,    Lieutenant  Allen  King. 

Assistant   Surgeon  Henderson. 

Paymaster.    Licuteant   Harry   McEnery. 

AV;;rrant    Gunner    Sidney    S.    Simpson. 

8:30  p.m.— Reception  of  distinguished 
-nests  by  Historical  Rail  Reception  Corui- 
initteo  at  the  French  Opera  House. 

it  p.m.— Opening  of  the  Historical  ball', 
subscription  ball"  given  by  the  ladies  of 
the  Historical  Society,  by  special  invita 
tion  and  r.umit  cards;  minuet  and  ga 
votte  dances. 

Saturday,    Dee.    11),    1903. 

10:30  a. in. -Reception  by  the  Mayor, 
City  Council  and  executive  officers  of  the 
Governor  of  distinguished  guesU  in  the 
Mayor's  parlor.  City  Hall. 

11  a.m.— Departure  of  the  Mayor,  Citj 
Council,  executive  officers  and  distin 
guished  guests  in  carriages,  with  escort 
of  First  Troop  of  Cavalry.  Captain  C. 
Robert  Churchill  commanding:  arrival 
at  the  Archbishop's  old  palace,  Chartrcs 
!iiul  Ursiilines  Streets,  and  reception  by 
the  Museum  Committee. 

11  rod     a.m. -Opening     of     the     Colonial 

Museran     by      Presid  •ut      Alcee     Fortier, 

1 'resident  of  the  Louisiana  Historical  So- 

iety.      Addresses    to    be    delivered    from 

lie 'lower     non-ls     by     President     Fortier 

nd    Governor    Heard,    who    will   formally 

leclare  the  museum  open.  If  the  weather 

s  inclement  the  exercises  will  take  place 

in   the   hall  on  the   lower  floor. 

PROGRAMME    OF   CEREMONIES. 

Music. 

Mayoi  of  New  Orleans  to  preside  and 
explain  the  object  of  the  meeting  and 
introduce  President  Alcee  Fortier. 

Historical  address  by  President  For 
tier. 

Music. 

Declaration  of  opening  of  the  Colonial 
Museum  by  His  Excellency  the  Governor 
of  Louisiana. 

Music. 


Progre-s  of  the  Governor,  officials  nnu 
distinguished  guests  through  the  Colon 
ial  Museum,  escorted  by  the  Museum 
Committee. 

12:^0  p.m. — Departure  of  cortege  Tor 
Jackson  Square. 

1  p.  ui, — Commemorative  meeting  in 
front  of  the  Cnbildo,  if  the  weather  is 
propitious,  or  in  the  Supreme  Court  room 
if  the  weather  is  inclement.  Admission 
by  card  or  badge  to  the  platform.  11 
the  meeting  takes  place  in  the  Supreme 
Court  room  the  fidmission  will  bo  lim 
ited.  Chairman  Zaehnvie.  of  the  Cabildo 
Committee,  will  att^ml  to  the  sen  tin  2:  of 
pue^ts  on  the  platform,  the  reception 
fir.d  departure  of  the  officials  and  dis 
tinguished  guests. 


W.   J.   WAGUESPACK, 

Chairman   Cathedral    Ueceptio.i    Comniittje. 


PROGRAMME   OF   THE   COMMEMORA- 
TiVK   MEETING. 

Music.   "Washington    Post." 

His  Excellency  Govern.)'-  U'.  W.  Hear.! 
presiding. 

Address  by  the  Governor,  who  will 
introduce  the  speakers. 

Music,    "Star-Spangled    Banner." 

Add:  ess  of  Hi<  Exce.lcncy  M.  Jusser- 
find.  Ambassador  ol'  the  French  lie- 
public. 

Musu  .   "La  Marseiilais .-." 

Address  of  tlie  representative  of  Spain. 
Hon.  Tuero  y  O'DoMiel.,  Spanish  Cuiusi;! 
nt  New  Orleans 

Music,    "Marc. ha    Rcale." 


Address  of  the  representative  of  t.nfe 
United  State*. 

Music.   "Red.  White  and  U'luc." 

Address  of  Ex-Governor  L).  R.  Francis. 
of  Missouri,  President  of  the  Louisiana 
Purchase  Exposition  at  St.  Loui.s. 

Music,     "Hail,    Columbia.' 

Luncheon  in  justices'  consultation 
room,  if  the  meeting  closes  at  12:30  p.m.: 
if  not.  then  after  the  review  the  lunch 
will  be  served. 

,'J  p.m.— Review  of  troops  by  His  Ex 
cellency  the  Governor  from  the  platform. 
Posiiions  on  the  platform:  President 
Fortier,  Ex-Governor  Francis.  Spanisn 
,  representative,  Governor  Heard,  French 
Ambassador.  United  States  representa 
tive  and  the  Mayor,  visiting  Governors 
ar-d  staffs,  State  and  city  officials. 

7:4.1  p.m. — Gala  performance  at  the 
French  Opera  House.  Tickets  to  be  pro 
cured  at  the  box  office  on  payment  of 
announced  prices.  Thirty  boxes  reserved 
for  distinguished  guests,  who  will  DC 
seated  by  the  Opera  House  Committee, 
and  escorted  by  the  .same  Committee  on 
their  departure. 

S  p.m. — Presentation  of  the  opera  "Car 
men,"  of  Bizet. 


Sunday,    Dec.    2O,    19O3. 

At  0:4r,  A.M.— Pontifical  hi-h  mass- 
and  "To  Denm"  at  the  St.  Louis  Cathe 
dral.  Doors  open  at  9  a.m.  Admission 
by  card. 

Officials  and  distinguished  guests  will 
be  admitted  and  seated  by  the  Cathe 
dral  Committee.  His  Excellency,  Arch 
bishop  rhapelle.  will  officiate. 

The  Cathedral  Choir,  under  the  di 
rection  oe  Mrs.  Theresa  Cannon  Buckley, 
organist,  will  be  assisted  on  this  great 
occasion  by  the  Jesuits'  Choir,  by  some 
of  the  principal  artists  of  the  French 
Opera,  and  by  the  best  local  talent. 
There  will  be  an  orchestra,  composed  of 
musicians  of  the  French  Opera  Orches 
tra,  di-'cctej  by  M.  Mona. 

MUSICAL  PROGRAMME. 

Processional— "Hallelujah,"      solo     and 

oliorv.s  of  Hummel.  Solo  by  Miss  Corimie 
Bailey. 

"Kyrie."  from  Cimarosa's  Military 
Mass,  solos  by  Cathedral  Quartette. 

"Gloria."  Cimarosa. 

"Crpdo."  from  Gounod's  "St.  Cecila 
Mass,"  solos  by  Jesuit  Church  Quar 
tet  t-. 

Offertory— "Fac  ut  Porteni,"  by  Ros 
sini,  sung  by  Mine.  Bressler-Gianoli,  con 
tralto  of  the  French  Opera. 

"Sanctus."  Gomio.Ts  "St.  Cecilia." 
"Agnus  be!."  by  Bizet,  soprano  solo> 
sung  by  Mine.  Packbiers,  chanteuse 
legcre  of  the  French  Opera  troupe, 
with  harp  accompaniment  by  Miss  Hel 
en  I'itkin,  and  cello  by  Mr.  Mona. 


"To  Deum,"  sung  by  tho  clergy  in  the 
sanctuary,  and  thirty  male  voices  in  tho 
choir. 

Recessional,  grand  chorus,  from 
Gounod's  "Redemption." 

CATHEDRAL    CHOIR. 

Sopranos— Mrs.  Harrison-Delery,  Misses 
E.  Doussan,  O.  Xeyrey,  A.  Xores,  S. 
Daboval.  O.  Fugleman..  G.  Betat,  J. 
Cusimano, .  E.  Burthe,  E.  Fournier,  X. 
Schneidau,  M.  Pemberton,  E.  Curien,  L. 
Domecq,  E.  Flessig,  G.  Taylor,  X.  Ug- 
land,  L.  Asbury,  L.  Hiintha. 

Altos— Mrs.  E.  Lejenne,  Mrs.  B.  Bois- 
fontaine,  Mrs.  E.  May,  Mrs.  X.  Aliphat, 
Mrs.  L.  Garvey,  Mrs.  L.  Ratto,  Mrs.  A. 
Willoz. 

'  Tenors— Messrs.  A.  H.  Kernion,  T.  C. 
Viavant,  J.  H.  Desmares,  O.  Wintler,  W. 
B.  Slade,  H.  Renaud. 

Bassos— Messrs.  L.  J.  Doize,  W.  J. 
Zimmerman.  J.  Fontana,  L.  Burthe,  A. 
Boisblanc,  W.  Tusson. 

The  choir  will  be  assisted  by  Misses 
Corinne  Bailey,  Helen  Pitkin,  Regina 
Fremaux,  Berthe  Olivier,  L.  Olivier; 
Mrs.  Dr.  Q.  Kohnke,  Mines.  M.  McDon 
nell,  K.  McCorniack.  B.  Cooper,  A.  Coop 
er,  D.  Gautreaux;  Messrs.  I..  Rieau,  G. 
Rioau;  Gauthier,  of  the  French  Opera; 

E.  Carley,   and  the  Jesuits'  Choir,  as  fol 
lows: 

Carminie  Allen,  Mrs.  M.  J.  Allison, 
Esther  Bacho,  Mrs.  D.  J.  Bowles,  Clem 
entine  Crump.  Aimee  David,  Renee 
David,  May  Deltry,  Mrs.  A.  O.  Exnicios, 
Mrs.  F.  C.  Font,  Regina  Glenn.  Xina 
Hogan,  Felicie  Hsu-del.  Mrs.  L.  D.  Harri 
son',  Myra  Jones,  Mrs.  R.  M.  Jones, 
Kortensp  Kilshaw.  Valentine  Kilshaw, 
Ruby  Xorieh,  Florence  O'Donneil,  Julia 
Wogan,  Miss  Reiuocke:  Messrs.  Chas.  J. 
Babst,  S.  J.  Bowles,  J.  J.  Crozier,  Jr., 
Joseph  Hote,  R.  M.  Jones.  Alfred  Mies- 
ter.  E.  A.  O'SuHivau.  Alb.  Portilla,  John 
K. 'Segrave,  C.  L.  Sully,  John  C.  White, 

F.  C.   Font. 

RECEPTION   COMMITTEE   AT  TIIF.  CATIIF.- 
DIIAL. 


Dr.  Paul  de  Verges, 
Thos.  G.  Rapier, 
John  11.  Ficklen, 
Dr.  E.  D.  Martin, 
J.  B.  Levert, 
Dr.  T.  S.  Dabney, 
John.  T.  Gibbons, 
Dr.  A.  E.  Fossier, 
John  Dymond,  Jr., 
J.  P.  Baldwin, 
George  AA'.  Young, 
K.  T.  Manning. 
Bnssiere  Rouen, 
Andre  Lal'argne, 
Chais.  I.  Denechaud, 
AV.  A.  Kernaghan, 
Peter  F.  Pescud, 
Pierre  D.  Olivier, 
Joseph  P.  Buckley, 
Leonard  Robin., 
Sidney  Story, 
J.  Z.  SpearhKr. 
John  AV.  Phillips, 
F.  E.  Bernard, 
P.  M.  AVestfeldt, 
Chas.  G.  Gill. 
Andrew  Fitzpatrick, 
J.  F.  Couret, 
Geo.  C.  H.  Kernion, 
H.  S.  Crozier. 
F.  H.  Mortimer, 
Dr.  M.  C.  Brady, 
M.  H.  Manion. 
Charles  Janvier, 
Jules  A.  Gar.che, 
R.  T.  Beauregard, 
Chas.  T. 


James.  M.  Augustin, 
J.  Henry  Lafaye, 
A'ictor  AA'ogan, 
James  Thibant, 
H.  F.  Baldwin. 
Bernard  Bruenn, 

A.  F.  Livaudais, 
AV.  O.  Hart. 
Frank  H.  AVaddill, 
Hugnes  de  la  Vergne, 
Henry  M.  Gill, 
Rixiord  J.  Lincoln1, 
Horatio  Lange, 
Benj.  Crump. 

John  A.  Grehan, 
E.  C.  Day, 
Allison  Owens, 
J.  E.  Bnrguieres. 
John  P.  Pemberton, 
J.  L.  Lyons, 
T.  S.  McLoughlin, 
AV.  L.  Hushes. 
P.  Percy  Viosca, 
Hugh  McCloskey, 
Clarence  F.  Low, 
Lucien  Soniat, 
Henry  McLoughlin, 
J.  Creighton  Mathews, 

B.  Winchester  Bowling-, 
JaP.  J.  LeGardeur. 
Hon.  John  St.  Paul. 

O.  Provosty. 
Chas.  A.  Fricke. 
Thomas  G.  Rapier,  Jr., 
Drury  J.  Tallant. 
M<ini'ice  Baudier, 
I'.  S.  Augustin. 


Mr.    AV.    J.    AA'a 

guespa'-k.    Chairman; 

Jos.  A.  Breaux. 

AValter  D.  Denesre, 

Geo.  H.  Theard, 

H.'iii-v  G.  McCall, 

W.  J.  Behan. 

E.  A.  O'Snilivan. 

Charles  F.  Claihorno, 

John  Fitzpatrick, 

William  Mehle, 

A.  E.  Morphy. 

Patrick  McGrath, 

James  D.  Hill. 

John  Dymond. 

Judge  Frank  McGloin, 

H.  Garland  Dupre, 

Judge  P.  F.  Hennessey, 

Arsene  Perrilliat, 

Prof.  M.  A.  Aldrieh. 

J.  B.  Sinnott. 

Prof.  P..  V.  P..  Dlxon. 

W.  H.  Sevmonr. 

Dr.  C.M.  Menville, 

Edwin  A.  AldermiMi, 

Edarar  H.  Farrar, 

Isaac  M.  Clino. 

In-.  AVm.  Scheppegrcll, 

Lawrence  F  aba  Cher, 

Henry  Reiis'iaw, 

Dr.  Felix  Gaudin, 

Dr.  J.  J.  Archinard, 

' 

T.  P.  Thompson, 

J.  P.  Blair. 

Dr.  Q.  Kohnke, 

Dr.  L.  G.  LeBeuf, 

1 

John  B.  Fisher. 

.7.  S.  /'.acharie. 

Dr.  T.  J.  Dirnitry, 

Bernard  McCloskey, 

Folix  J.  Pnig, 

Espy  Williams. 

Joseph  Garcia. 
J,  J.  McLoughlin, 

Samuel  AA".  AA'eis. 
Dr.  J.  N.  Roussel, 

1 

At  11:50  A.M.— Closing  of  ceremonies 
of  ihe  nuuss. 

CEXTEXXIAL    CEREMONIES. 

The  officials  and  distinguished  guests 
will  assemble  under  the  arcade  of  the 
Cabiklo,  and  will  be  received  by  the 
Cabildo  Committee  in  tho  sala  capitular, 
(Supreme  Courtroom)  and  seated. 

OX    THE     SUPREME    COURT    BlvNL'H. 

The  Mayor,  Governor  Francis.  the 
Spanish  representatives;  Governor  Heard, 
the  1-Yench  Ambassador,  the  representa 
tive  of  the  United  States.  visiting 
Governors  and  Justices,  will  be  seated. 

At  12  M.— Signal  gun  announcing  the 
departure  from  the  corner  of  Deeatur 
and  St.  Peter,  of  Messr>.  Charles  F. 
Claiborne  and  Theodore  Wilkinson, 
whose  grandfathers  were  the  American 
Commissioners  at  the  transfer  in  1803. 
They  \\ill  lie  accompanied  by  Hon.  Ja;-. 
S.  '/acharie,  representing  their  Secre 
tary,  Wa.'lsworth.  They  will  be  es 
corted  bv  the  Continental  Guards,  (wit- 
band  of' music)  representing  the  United 
States  Army  of  1803,  and  Avill  proceed 
to  the  Cabildo. 

At  12:05  P.M.— Reception  of  the  rep 
resentatives  of  the  American  Commis 
sioners  at  the  head  of  the  .stairs,  by 
the  Mayor  an,!  City  Council,  and  Presi 
dent  Alcee  Fortier.  representing  th- 
French  Commissioner,  Laussat,  Colonial 

Positions  i.i  the  rear  of  the  table  used 
by  membors  of  the  liar:  Commissioner 
Wilkinson,  represented  by  Mr.  Theodore 
S.  Wilkinson;  Commissioner  Fortier, 
representing  Commissioner  Laussat: 
Commissioner  Claiborne.  represented  D: 
Hon.  Charles  F.  Claiborne:  Secretary 
Danirerot,  represented  by  Hon.  Chas.  1 


,>oniat;  Secretary  Wads  worth,  represented 
by    HO.U.    Jas.    S.    Zacharie. 

The    Governor    of    Louisiana    will    pre 
side,  and  explain  the  object  of  the  meet- 
.ng.    which   is   to  be  a   repetition   of   the 
eremony  of   the   transfer   of   1803. 

Commissioner  Lauss«:Jt  announces  iu 
1'rench  the  object  of  the  meeting. 

The  French  Secretary  reads  in  English 
che  "Treaty  of  Cession." 

Secretary  Dangerot  read  in  French  the 
powers  ot'  Laussat  to  receive  Louisiana 
trom  Sixiii!. 

American  Secretary  reads  in  English 
The  powers  of  the  American  Commit 
sioners 

The  French  Secretary  reads  in  English 
The  powers  of  Laussat  to  deliver  Louisi 
tna  to  the  United  States. 

Declaration    of    Commissioner    Laussat 
nutting    the,*  American    Commissioners   in 
•ossessioii. 

All  standing  during  this  declaration, 
ind  at  the  close  they  take  their  seats. 

Delivery,  by  Commissioner  Laussat,  of 
:he  keys  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 

Commissioner  Laussat.  in  French,  rc- 
'"ases  Louisiana  from  the  oath  of  alle 
giance  to  France. 

The  American  Secretary  reads  the 
7>roces  verbal  in  English. 

Address  of  Governor  Claibornc  read 
•  y  Hon.  Charles  F.  Claiborne. 

Announcement,  by  Governor  Heard,  o!' 
'•he  termination  of  the  repetition  of  the 
-•eremonies  of  ISO.0,.  In  order  to  com- 
.iiemorate  this  centennial  anniversary  a 
T.ror-es  verbal  will  be  signed. 

Distribution  of  medals  to  distinguished 
quests. 

"  Then,  proceeding  down  to  the  St. 
I'eter  Street  side  of  the  room,  conducted 
"  iv  the  ("Vibildo  Reception  Committee,  the 
Governor  nn.l  gi'ests.  and  the  officials, 
•te..  will  go  to  the  f'ntral  balcony. 

Positions   on   Italr-ony: 

Mayor    and    Governor. 

The  Governor  of  Louisiana  will  make 
in  appropriate  address. 

The  Mayrr  will  also  snenk.  find  with 
"lie  rending  of  Governor  Claiborne's  proc- 
:una':ion  of  1803.  the  ceremonies  will 
.•nd. 

At  a  signal  the  American  Flag  will  be 
Voiste.d  in  Jar-kson  Square;  the  Cathedral 
i  Mis  will  ring,  and  the  Washington 
-'•  rMl'ery  will  fire  a  svUut"  from  the 
Leveo,  which  will  be  responded  to  by 
i  "\e  men-of-war,  and  the  troops  will  pre- 
-ent  arms. 


THE     COLOMAL     BALL.. 


Centennial       Celebration       of       the 
Transfer   of  Louisiana,   at  tlie 
Frencli  Ojiera  Hotise,  Fri 
day,  Dec.  IS,  1903. 

MUSICAL    PROGRAMME. 

Arranged  by   I'rof.    George   L.    O'Connell. 

INTRODUCTORY. 

Leader    of    Orchestra.    Prof.    George    L. 
O'Connell. 

CONCERT. 

1.  "Caliph  of  Bagdad."  overture,   (1800) 


2.  "Andante."  Surprise  Symphony  (177*) 
Haydn. 

3.'  "Airs  a  Danser."  (a)  "Les  Fetes 
D'Hebe."  tambourin  (17a«)  Rameau.  (D) 
"Armide."  gavotte.  (1777)  Gluck.  (C) 
"Colinette  a  la  Cour."  Gigue 


e       . 

4.  "'Adagio,"  sonate  pathetique,  (179U) 
Beethoven. 

~>.  "La  ciiasse  du  Jeune  Henri,"  over 
ture,  (18021.  Mehul. 


PKOF.     G.    L.    O'CONNELL. 
Musual    Director    Colonial    Ball. 


BALL. 

L    "Priest  March,"  "Magic  Flue,"  (171)1) 
Mozart. 

•2.  "An  Cl-iir  de  la  Lune."  (1G74)  Lully. 
o.  "JJon  oi.an,"  minuet,  (l*8i)  Mozart. 
4.  "Cadet  iCoussel,"  i/opular  melody, 


"La       Fet 


le     Roi     Da 


Village,  ' 
obeit,"     popular 


o.  Gavott 
(li  78)  Goss 

(j.  "C'Kst 
melody. 

7.  Lancers.    "Hunters'    Joy,"    Tobani. 

8.  \\'altz.     "Espui.-a."    Chabrier. 

'J.  Promenade,  "Creoleries."  Old  time 
melodies  armnged  t>.\  I'rof.  George  L. 
O'Connell.  (a)  "Pov'  Piti  Mam'zel  Zizi,'' 
of  whivh  there  is  a  transcription  by 
Gottschalk.  of  New  Orl  \-in-,  "La  Savaue." 
d)i  "Mo  Laimin  Toi,  Cher'  Com'  Cochon 
laimin  la  Bon,"  an  old  Creole  song.  (C) 
"Zozo  Mokeur,"  descriptive  song,  words 
by  Chatah-Imah.  (Aiibc  Rouquette); 
music  by  W.  T.  Frances:  sur.g  by  Mrs. 
Peinbertoii-Hinck.-.  (d)  "D.mse  Calinda 
Boudoum!  Bondoum!"  old  Creole  sony. 
(p^  "Kan  Patat.  la  Tchuite  Ma  Manke 
Li."  of  wlrch  there  is  si  transcription  by 
Qottsclr'lk.  "La  Bambo-'.la."  (f)  "Cher 
Mo  Laimin  Toi."  old  Creole  song,  (g) 


"Vfolette  Embaumee,"  song  by  Eugene 
Chassai-nac,  of  Now  Orleans,  (h)  "Listen 
to  th-^  Mocking  Bird,'7  typical  song,  (i^ 
"Le  Keveil  !••  I,.  Louisiuie."  patriotic 
son?,  \vords  by  L.  Placide  Canouge, 
niu.sic  by  G.  Curto.  (j)  Finale:  Fou.- 
bars  of  a  Spanish  air,  "Del  Riego," 
nyuin:  four  bars  of  French  air,  "La  Mar 
seillaise;  four  bars  of  American  air,  "The 
S  t  a  r'-  .s  p  a  n  g  1  e  J  Ea  n  n  e  r  .  " 

DANCES    AND    PROMENADES. 

1.  Two-Step.     "Louisiana     Centennial," 
Miss   Emma   Hincks. 

2.  Waltz,    "Blue    Danube,"    Strauss 
Promenade,    "Amaryllis,"   air    "Louis 

XV."    Ghys. 

4.  Waltz,    ".My    Lady-  Love."    Kosey. 

o.  Promenade,  "Last  Hope."  (medlta- 
•uon  politique)  Gottschalk.  of  New  Ur- 
leans. 

0.  Waltz,     "Amoureuse."     liorger 

1.  Promenade     "Passe^Piad."     (air     d- 
Danse)   Gallet. 

5.  Waltz,   "Love's  Treasures,"  Waldtcu- 
fel. 

0.  Promenade,  "The  Musketeers,"  Var- 
ney.  of  Ne\v  Orleans. 

10.  Two-Step,       "Tlie    Jollv       General.  ' 
Moret. 

11.  Promenade,     "Chacone."     Durand. 

12.  Waltz.        "Impassioned        Dreams'," 
Roc  a. 

13.  Promenade.   "Gretna  Green  "   (scene 
ae  ballet)   by   Guirand,   of  New  Orleans. 

1.   Two-Slop.     "Thunder    and     Blazes." 
Fuslck. 

.      l."i.   Promenade,    "Columbine."    (minuet) 
Delahaye. 

1<5.   Two-Step,    "On    the    Levee."    Hall. 
17.   Two-Step.       "Stars       and       Stripes, 
Forever,      Sousa. 

THE    GALA    PERFORMANCE. 

French       Opera       Houso.       F.       Charlev, 

Manager. 

Grand     Gala     Performance     Commemora 

tive   of   the    LouisiaiM    Transfer 

Centennial,    Saturday.   Dec. 

11).   1903.   at  8  p.'ni. 

"CARMEN." 

Opera  in  four  acts:  music  by  Bizet: 
•words  by  Meilhae  and  Halevy:  under  the 
leadership  of  Monsieur  A.  Lairye,  with 
the  assistance  of  Mines.  Brassier.  Gian- 
oli.  Duperret  and  Mikaelly:  MM  Mi 
kaelly.  Monfort  and  Labriet. 


I>-n   Jose    ...................  M.    Mikaellv 

Escamillo    ..................  M.   Montfort 

Huuiga  ........................  M.    I.atriet 

Doncaire    ..................  M.    Montciaii- 

Remenclndo    ..................  M,    Leroux 

Morales'*  .....................  M.    Launay 

Carmen     ...........  Miue.Bressler-Glanoll 

Micoeln    ........  Mine.    Dupevret-Mlkaei'y 

Frasquila     .................  Mme.    1  tartes 

Mercedes  ..............  Mine.  Demesne 

Dragons,  toreadors,  contrebandiers, 
cigarrieres.  In  the  second  and  fourth 
nets  "Grand  Ballet."  directed  by  M. 
O.  Cammazano.  Ballet  Master:  by  Miss 
E.  Staats  and  the  ballet  corps.'  Alle 
gorical  tableau,  apotheose. 

Special  performances,  commemorative 
nf  the  Louisiana  Transfer  Centennial. 
vvill  be  given  at  the  French  Opera  House, 

Friday.  Dec.  IS,  at  1  p.m.,  matinee, 
*'RIffoIetto." 


Saturday,  Dee.  19,  1903.  at  1  p.m., 
matinee,  "La  Fille  de  Madame  Angot." 

Sunday,  Dec.  20,  at  1  p.m.,  matinee, 
"L'Africaine." 

Sunday,  Dec.  20.  1903.  at  7:30  p.m., 
"Le  Songe  d'uiie  uuit  d'Ete,"  une  couie- 
die  "I'rete  moi  la  Femme." 


THE   SL'XDAY  PROGRA3IME. 

Repetition  of  the  Transfer  of  1803. 

At  the  dose  of  the  pjntiiicul  mas*j,  at 
the.  ^ i .  i^uius  L-titneui'iii,  on  ounaay,  uec- 
j  ^U.  at  or  aoout  1  p.m.,  tlie  otneers  aud 
!  liiembei's  01  tue  Louisiana  Historical 
Society.  uu1  representatives  of  tlie 
J •  rencii,  fepanisn  ana  L  rated  States 
Govej-umeuLf,  ai:d  aistinguisnetl  guests, 
uud  tne  people  or  New  Orleans  will  pro 
ceed  to  tne  eabildo,  and  ir  the  weather 
is  propitious,  there  will  be  held  a  dupli 
cation  of  the  ceremonies  which  took 
place  Dec.  HO,  l»Uo,  when  the  Province 
ol!  Loursiaii;!  was  transferred  to  the 
L  nited  states  by  France.  Should  the  at- 
mo.spnericai  conditions  be  unfavorable, 
the  ceremonies  will  be  held  iu  tHo 
bupremc  Courtroom. 

'ine  Act  or  Cession  will  be  read,  and 
other  documents,  as  will  appear,  iu  their 
regular  order,  as  follows: 

Treaty  OL  i-aris,  signed  April  30,  1S03, 
by  wuich  France  ceued  Louisiana  to  the 
I  niteil  States:  "ireaty  between  the 
Frei-ch  liopui>iic  and  tue  Lrated  States, 
concerning  the  cession  of  Louisiana, 
signed  at  Paris  tne  ijittii  ol  April.  1803. 

"The  President  of  tae  United  States 
of  America,  '.aid  the  First  Consul  of  the 
French  Kepuidie,  in  the  name  of  the 
i  reneli  people,  desiring  to  remove  all 
source  oi  misunderstanding  relative  to 
objeeis  of  (iiscusxio;:,  mentioned  in  the 
second  and  nitii  'Articles  of  the  conven 
tion  of  Mh  V  en.deiniarie,  an  9  (30th 
of  Septcmoer.  IdUOj,  relative  to  the  rights 
claimed  t»y  tile  I  nited  States,  in  virtue 
of  tne  treaty  concluded  at  Madrid  the 
L'ltii  of  October.  li'Jo,  between  His 
Cathoii.'  Maj.'Siy  and  the  said  Unitet; 
Mates.  a:.d  willing  to  strengthen  the 
v.hion  and  triendship.  which  at  the  time 
of  the  said  convention  was  happily  re 
estab..sh'.'d  between  the  two  nations, 
have  respectively  named  their  plenipo 
tentiaries:  to  wit.  the  President  of  the 
I'nile.i  .states  of  America,  by  and  witia 
tlie  .. d vice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  ol 
said  States.  Robert  R.  Livingston, 
Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States,  and"  James  Monroe,  Minister 
Plenipotentiary  and  Envoy  Extraordinary 
of  the  sai.i  States,  n  >ar  the  Government 
of  the  French  Republic;  and  the  First 
Consul,  in  the  name  of  the  French  people, 
the  French  cifizen  Barbe  Marbois,  Minis 
ter  of  the  Public  Treasury,  who,  after 
having  respectively  exchang  vd  their  full 
[sowers,  have  agreed  to  the  following 
articles: 

"Article  1.  Whereas,  by  the  article  the 
third  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  St.  llde- 
phonso.  the  Hth  Vendemiaire.  an  9  (Is'. 
October.  18nO),  between  the  First  Consul 
of  the  French  Republic  and  His  Catholic 
Ma. testy,  it  was  agreed  as  follows:  'His 
C.'tbdic  Majesty  promises  and  engages, 
on  his  nart.  to  retrocede  to  the  French 
Republic",  six  months  after  the  full  and 


.10.. 


entire  execution  of  the  conditions  ami 
stipulations  herein  relative  u>  iiis  Royal 
Highness  the  L»uke  ot  1'armu.  me  colony 
or  province  of  Louisitmu,  with  uie  same 
extent  that  it  now  has  in  the  hands  or 
Spain,  and  that  it  hud  when  France 
possessed  it;  and  such  as  it  should  be 
after  the  treaties  subsequently  entered 
into  between  Spain  and  other  States.' 
And,  whereas,  in  pursuance  of  the  treaty, 
and  'particularly  of  the  third  article,  the 
French  Republic  has  -.in  incontestable 
title  to  the  domain,  and  to  the  possession 
of  said  territory:  The  First  Consul  o' 
the  French  Republic,  desiring  to  give 
to  the  United  States  a  strong  proof  01 
his  friendship,  doth  hereby  cede  to  the 
said  United  States,  in  the  name  of  the 
French  Republic,  forever  and  in  full 
sovereignty,  the  said  territory,  with  all 
its  rights  and  appurtenances,  as  fully 
and  in  the  same  manner  as  they  had  been 
acquired  by  the  French  Republic  in 
virtue  of  the  above-mentioned  treat v  con 
cluded  with  His  Catholic  Majesty. 

"Art.  2.  In  the  cession  made  by  the 
preceding  article  are  included  the  ad 
jacent  islands  belonging  to  Louisiana, 
all  p"ublic  lots  and  squares,  vac.mt  lands, 
and  all  public  buildings,  fortifications, 
barracks,  and  other  edifices  which  are 
not  private  property.  The  archives, 
papers,  and  documents,  relative  to  the 
domain  and  sovereignty  of  Louisiana  and 
its  dependencies,  will  be  left  ii;  the 
possession  of  the  commissaries  of  tue 
United  ^States,  and  copies  will  be  after 
ward  given  in  due  form  to  the  magis 
trates  and  municipal  officers  of  such 
of  the  said  papers  and  documents  as 
may  be  necessary  to  them. 

"Art.  3.  The  inhabitants  of  the  ceded 
territory  shall  be  incorporated  in  the 
Union  of  the  United  States,  and  admit 
ted  as  soon  as  possible,  according  to  the 
principles  of  the  Federal  Constitution, 
to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  rights,  ad 
vantages  and  immunities  of  citizens  of 
the  United  States:  and  in  the  meantime 
they  shall  be  maintained  and  protected 
in  the  free  enjoyment  of  their  liberty, 
property,  and  the  religion  which  they 
profess. 

"Art.  4.  There  shall  be  sent  by  the 
Government  of  France -a  commissary  to 
Louisiana,  to  the  end  that  he  do  every 
act  necessary,  as  well  as  to  receive  from 
the  officers  of  His  Catholic  Majesty  the 
s;;id  country  and  its  dependencies,  in  the 
name  of  the  French  Republic,  if  it  has 
not  been  already  done,  as  to  transmit  it 
1't  the  name  of  the  French  Republic  to 
the  Commissary  or  agent  of  the  United 
States. 

"Art.  .".  Immediately  after  th»  ratilicn- 
tion  of  the  present  treaty  by  the  1' resi 
dent  of  the  United  States,  'and  in  rase 
dat  of  the  First  Consul  shall  have  been 
previously  obtained,  the  Commissary  ol 
the  French  Republic  shall  remit  all  the 
military  posts  of  New  Orleans  ami  other 
parts  of  the  ceded  territory,  to  th"  Com 
missary  or  Commlfwniies  named  bv  the 
President  to  tnfco  possession:  th0  troops, 
whether  of  France  or  Spain,  who  may 
be  there,  shall  ee-is^  to  occnpv  nny  mili 
tary  post  from  the  tini"  of  taking  pos 
session,  find  shnll  bp  embnvked  n.«  soon 
fl *t  possible.  i'i  th0  course  o*  three  months 
aft<»T  the  rfitificnt'rm  of  this  trentv. 

"Art.  f>.  The  Unitrvl  States  promise  to 
execute  such  treaties  and  articles  as  may 


have  been  agreed  between  Spain  iiKfl 
tlu-»  tribes  ami  nations  of  Indians,  until, 
by  iriutual  consent  of  the  United  States 
and  the  said  tribes  or  nations,  other 
suitable  articles  shall  have  been  agreed 
upon. 


ROBEKT    R.    LIVINGSTON. 


"Art.  7.  As  it  is  reciprocally  advanta 
geous  to  /.he  commerce  of  Prance  and 
the  United  States  to  encourage  the  com 
munication  of  botih  nations  for  a  limited 
time  in  the  country  ceded  by  the  present 
treatv.  until  general  arrangements  rela 
tive  'to  the  commerce  of  both  nations 
may  be  agreed  on.  it  has  been  agreed 
between  the  contracting  parties,  that 
the  French  ships  coming  .directly  from 
France  or  any  of  her  colonies,  loaded 
only  with  the  produce  or  manufactures 
of  'Frarce^  >v  her  said  colonies;  and  the 
ships  of  Spain  coming  directly  from 
Spain  or  any  of  her  colonies,  loaded  only 
with  the  produce  or  manufactures  of 
Spain  or  her  colonies,  shall  be  admitted 
during  the  space  of  twelve  years  in  the 
porrs  of  New  Orleans,  and  in  all  other 
legal  ports  of  .entry  within  the  ceded 
territory  in  the  same  in-inner  as  the 
ships  of  the  United  States  coming  directly 
from  Franr-e  or  Spain  or  any  of  their 
colonies,  without  being  subject  to  any 
other  or  greater  duty  on  merchandise. 
or  oth">r  greater  tonnage  than  those  paid 
by  the  citizens  of  the  United  States. 

"Dn.riiu11  the  *nae,e  of  tini"  above- 
mentioned,  no  other  nation  shall  have 
n  right  to  the  same  privilege  in  tfoe 
ports  of  the  cedoil  territory:  the  twelve 
years  s^nll  commence  three  mo-iths  after 
the  exchange  of  ratifications,  if  it  shall 
1-nfc-p  nlaco  in  France,  or  three  months 
jitter  it  shall  have  b^on  notified  nt  1'aris 
to  the  French  Government  if  'it  shall 
take  place  i»  tl^>  United  St-'t^s;  it  is. 
however  well  understood  fbat  the  object 
of  tli^  above  article  is  to  favor  the  marm- 
fnctuVes.  ef.;nmerce.  fr°i"br.  and  naviga 
tion  of  Fra"'-e  Hivl  of  Fnnin.  *o  far  as 
j.«inf0s5  fo  t11"  i'nnortntinn';  tlvt  the 
French  mid  Si>nui«h  shall  moke  into  tbo 
said  norts  o^  the  T'l'ivd  States  withroit 
in  anv  sort  nffrr-tint.'  the  re-nlations  that 
fi.o  F'lH^rl  Stntf«  r-i^v  ma^e  r-or.cerning 
the  exportation  of  the  produce  and  noer- 


..11. 


Under 


THOMAS    JHFFERSON, 

Presd;vicy     tnj     Urjked    Stiies    Purchased    the 
Louisiana  Terr  tory. 


chandise    of    the    I'nited    SMtr;-. 
rijiht   they   may   ha\e    t.)   make   so 
lutions. 

"Art.  8.  In  future.  and  for  ever  after 
th"  oxp'ration  nf  t'n<>  t\vei\-e  yvrs.  un 
ships  of  Frunoc  shall  i»c  treated  upon 
the  t'ootin;  of  the  ;iri^t  J'a-i'di'r.l  nati  >;is 
in  the  ports  al)ove-ineutlo*ted. 

"Art.  0.  The  jc'i-tic-i'Mr  no^ro'itlO'i 
signed  this  day  by  the  respective  Minis 


ers.  l..;viiiii-  I'm'  its  object  t<>  provide  for 
!iH  iavnie.it  or  del»ts  due  to  tue  citizens- 
l'  tue'  I  n:te:l  Stales  l»y  the  I'"rench  Ke- 
.rlili-.'.  urior  to  the  "nth  of  September, 
VuO  (Sth  Vei'dr-niiaire.  an  l>).  is  ap- 
:o\-(d.  ainl  'ui  liave  its  execution  in  tne 
:ini(  Ina-.nrr  a<  if  it  had  been  inserted 
:i  the  prese>u  treaty,  and  it  shall  be 
-i^iti.  T  hi  the  sani  •  f'o:-;u.  and  in  the 
ame  time,  so  tint  the  one  shall  not  b« 
atified  distinct,  from  the  other. 


12. 


"Another  particular  convention,  .signeo 
*.t  the  same  uate  as  the  present  treaty, 
relative  to  the  definite  ruie  between  tne 
contracting  parties,  is  in  the  like  manner 
approved,  and  will  be  ratihed  in  the 
saaie  form,  and  in  the  same  tune,  and 
jointly. 

"Art.  10.  The  present  treaty  shall  be 
ratified  in  good  and  due  form,  and  the 
ratifications  shall  be  exchanged  in  the 
space  of  six  months  after  the  uate  of  tne 
signature  m-  tue  Ministers  Plenipoten 
tiary,  or  .sooner  if  possible. 

•'in  faith  wheivot,  tae  respective 
Plenipotentiaries  have  signed  thesa 
articles  in  the  French  and  English  lan 
guages:  declaring,  nevertheless,  that  the 
present  treaty  was  originally  agreed  to 
i;i  the  French  language;  and  have  t here 
unto  put  their  seals. 

"Done  at  1'aris.  the  tenth  day  ol 
Floreal,  in  the  eleventh  year  of  the 
French  Republic,  and  the  30th  of  April, 
-1  N.!i>. 

"ROBERT     R.     LIVINGSTON', 
"JAMES     MONUOE, 
"BARBE   MAKBOIS." 

The  treaty  having  been  ratified,  Napol 
eon  Bonaparte,  First  Consul  of  the 
French  Republic,  appointed  Colonial 
Prefect  Laus..sat  to  (leaver  possession  or 
Louisiana  to  the  United  .States.  and 
President  Thomas  Jefferson  appointed 
Governor  William  Charles  Cole  ciaihoriic 
;;ud  Brigadier  General  James  Wilkinson 
ti>  receive  possession  of  Louisiana. 

At  12  o'clock,  oii  'Dec.  20,  18015,  the 
Commissioners  of  the  United  States  ap 
peared  at  the  Hotel  tie  Ville.  known  as 
the  Cabildo,  or,  the  Place  d'Armes,  in 
the  city  of  New  Orleans,  and  were  re- 
ceive'd  in  the  Srila  Capitular  by  the  Com 
missioners  of  France.  The  powers  of  the 
Commissioners  wer-  read  and  the  trans 
fer  of  Louisiana  to  the  Muted  States, 
with  the  k"vs  of  the  city.  wa.s  then 
formally  made  by  the  Commissioners  of 
the  .Republic  of  France,  and  the  follow- 
Snjr  proces  verbal  \vas  signed: 

I'ROCES  VERBAL  OF  THE  DELI  V  KK  1 
OF    LOUISIANA. 

"The  undersigned,  William  C.  C.  Clai- 
liorne  and  James  Wilkinson,  Commission 
ers  or  Agents  of  the  United  States, 
agreeable  to  the  full  powers  they  have 
received  from  Thomas  Je.fer.son,  Presi 
dent  oi  the  United  States,  under  the 
cr.tc  of  t.iirty-first  of  October.  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  three,  and 
twenty-eighth  year  of  the  Independence 
•of  the  United  States  of  America  (eight 
Brumalie,  twelfth  year  of  the  French 
Republic),  countersigned  by  the  Secretary 
r»f  State,  James  Madison:  and  Citizen 
Peter  Clement  Laussnt.  Colonial  Prefect 
•and  Commissioner  of  the  French  Govern 
ment,  for  the  de'ivery  in  the  name  of  the 
French  Republic  of  the  country,  terri 
tories  and  f*.ependencics  of  Louisiana  to 
the  Commissioners  or  Agents  of  the 
United  States,  conformably  to  the  powers, 
commission  and  special  mandate  which 
he  has  received  in  the  name  of  the 
French  people  from  Citizen  Bonaparte, 
First  Consul,  under  date  of  the  (j  June. 
1*03  (17  Prairial.  eleventh  year  of  the 
French  Republic),  countersigned  by  the 
Secretary  of  State.  Hug.ua*  Maret.  by  His 
Excellency;  the  Minister  of  Marine  and 
Colonies  Decres.  do  certify  by  these 


presents,  that  or,  this  day,  Tuesday,  the 
twentieth  of  December,  oije  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  three,  of  the  Christian 
era  (twenty-eight  Friinaire,  twelfth  year 
of  the  French  Republic),  being  convened 
in  the  Hall  of  the  Hotel  de  Ville  of  New 
Orleans,  accompanied  OP.  both  sides  by 
chiefs  and  officers  of  the  Army  and  Navy, 
by  the  municipality  and  divers  respectable 
( .  itizei-s  of  their  respective  Republics,  the 
s.iid  Wihiam  C.  C.  Claiboihe  and  James 
Wilkinson  delivered  to  tlie  said  Citizen 
Lanssat  their  aforesaU  frill  powers,  by 
which  it  evidently  appears  that  full 
powers  and  authority  have  been  given 
jointly  .'Hid  severally  to  take  possession 
of  r.iul  to  occupy  the  territories  ceded 
i-.y  France  to  the  United  States  by  the 
treaty  (  o:-cl  ided  at  PaHs  on  the  thirtieth 
<!ay  of  April  last  past  (tentli  Floreal)  and 
for  that* purpose  to  rp}Ki-ir  to  the  said 
territory  and  there  to  execute  ana  per- 


JAMK.S    MU  Ml  De 


form  a'.l  ?uch  r.cts  and  things  touching 
the  premises  as  may  It-*  necessary  for 
fulfilling  their  appointments,,  conform 
able  to  the  said  Ueaty.  and  the  laws  of 
the  United  States:  ami  th"veupon  the 
said  Citizen  Lauss.it  declared,  that  in 
virtue  or  and  in  uie  terms  of  the  powers, 
commission  ami  special  m.uidate  dated 
at  St.  Cloud  the  sixth  day  of  June,  on*' 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  three,  of  the 
ChrLMtau  Era  (sevciite?enth  Prairial, 
clever- th  year  of  the  l-'rench  Republic! 
lif<  j)ut  from  that  moment  the  said  Com- 
miss.'oners  of  the  Unite.]  States  in 
possession  of  the  country,  territories  and 
dependencies  of  Louisiana,  conformable 
to  the  tirst.  second,  fourth  and  fifth 
article*  of  the  treaty,  and  the  two  con 
ventions  concluded  and  signed  the 


thirtieth  of  April,  oue  thoiusand  eight 
hundred  alia  t.iree  (tenth  Floreal, 
eleven t;i  year  of  tile  French  Repuulic.i, 
between  liie  i'  rench  Rcpuolie  aiul  tue 
Lmted  Males  nt  America,  Ijy  Citizen 
Francis  Larbe  Marbois.  Aiinister  ol:  the 
Public  Treasury,  and  Aiessrs.  Robert  R. 
Livingston  and  James  .Monroe,  .Ministers 
Plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States,  aiL 
three  furnished  with  full  powers,  of 
which  treaty  and  two  conventions  the 
ratifications  made  by  the  rir.st  Consul 
of  the  French  Republic  on  the  one  part, 
and  by  the  President  of  the  United 
States  by  and  with  the  advice  and  con 
sent  of  the  Senate,  on  the  other  part, 
have  been  exchanged  and  mutually  re 
ceived  at  the  City  of  Washington  the 
twenty-first  of  October,  one  thousand 
eight  'hundred  and  three  (twenty-eight 
Vendemiaire,  twelfth  year  of  the  French 
Repifblio  by  Citizen  Louis  Andre  Piehon, 
Charge  d'  Affairs  of  the  French  Republic 
near  the  United  States,  on  the  part  of 
France,  and  by  James  Madison,  Secre 
tary  of  Sta'j  of  the  United  States,  on 


JAMES    WILKINSON. 


the  part  of  the  United  State.-,  according 
to  the  proces  verbal  drawn  up  on  tin* 
same  day:  ar;d  the  present  delivery  of 
the  country  is  made  to  them  raid  thai 
in  conformity  vsith  the  object  of  the 
said  treaty  the  sovereignty  and  property 
of  the  colony  or  province  of  Louisiana, 
may  pass  to  the  United  States,  under 
the1  same  clauses  and  conditions  as  it 
had  been  coded  by  Spain  to  France,  i;i 
virtue  of  the  treaty  concluded  at  S. 
Ildefonso  on  the  first  <>f  October,  one 
thousand  eiirht  hun.lred  (nine  Ver.de- 
minire.  ninth  year)  between  these  two 
last  powers,  which  has  .since  received  its 
execution  by  the  actual  re-entrance  or 
the  French 'Republic  into  possession  of 
the  said  cclony  or  province. 

"And  the  said  Citizen  Laussat  has  in 
consequence,  at  this  present  time  de 
livered  to  the  «nid  Commissioners  of  the 
United  States  in  this  public  setting,  the 


keys  of  the  city  of  Xew  Orleans,  declar 
ing  that  he  discharges  from  the  oaths  of 
fidelity  toward  tae  French  Republic  tlie 
citizens  and  inhabitants  of  Louisiana 
who  shall  choose  to  remain  under  the 
dominion  of  the  United  States. 

"And  that  it  may  forever  appear,  tae 
undersigned  have  .signed  the  proces  ver 
bal  of  this  important  and  solemn  act. 
in  tlie  French  and  Euiilish  languages, 
and  have  sealed  it  with  their  seals,  and 
have  caused  it  to  be  countersigned  by 
their  Secretaries  of  Commission,  the  day. 
month  and  year  above  written. 

"LAUSSAT, 

"Le     Secretaire     de    la     Commission     clu 
Gouvt.    Fivmcais. 

"Par  le  Prefet  Colonial  Commissaire, 
"DAUGEROT. 
"W.    C.    C.    CLAIi'.ORNE. 
"JAMES    WILKINSON. 
"P.y   Order   of  the   Commissioners  on   the 

Part  of  the    United   States, 
"D.    WADSWOR'III, 
"Secretary    of    the     American     Com 
mission." 

After  the  proces  verbal  had  been  signed. 
Governor  William  Charles  Cole  Claibonie 
then  addressed  the  assembly: 

ADDRESS    OF    GOVERNOR     WILLIAM 
CHARLES   COLE   CLAIBOK-NE. 

"Fellow  Citizens  of  Louisiana:  On  the 
great  and  interesting  event  now  hualiy 
consummated — an  event  so  advantageous 
to  yourselves,  and  so  glorious  to  united 
America — 1  cannot  forbear  offering  you 
my  warmest  congratulations.  The  wise 
policy  of  the  Consul  of  France  has,  by 
ilie  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United. 
States,  secured  to  you  a  connection  be 
yond  the  reach  of  change,  and  to  your 
posterity  the  sure  inheritance  of  freedom. 
The  American  people  receive  you  as. 
brothers,  and  will  hasten  to  extend  ta 
you  a  participation  in  those  inestimable 
rights  which 'have  formed  the  oasis  of 
their  own  unexampled  prosperity.  Under 
the  a.uspices  of  the  American  Govern 
ment.  vou  may  confidently  rely  upon  the 
security  of  your  liberty,  your  properly, 
and  the  religion  of  your  choice.  1'ou 
may,  with  equal  certainty,  rest  assured 
that  your  commerce  will  be  promoted, 
and  your  agriculture  cherished;  in  a 
word,'  that  your  true  interests  will  be 
among  the  primary  objects  of  our 
National  Legislature.  In  return  for  these 
benefits,  the  United  States  will  be  amply 
remunerated,  if  your  growing  attachment 
to  ti^e  Constitution  of  our  country,  and 
your  veneration  for  the  principles  on 
whicn  it  is  founded,  be  duly  proportioned 
to  the  blessings  which  they  will  confer. 
Among  your  first  duties,  therefore,  you 
should  cultivate  with  assiduity  among 
yourselves  the  advancement  of  political 
information;  you  should  guide  the  rising 
iieneration  in  tlu>  paths  of  republican 
economy  and  virtue:  you  should  en 
courage"  literature:  for  without  the  ad 
vantages  of  education,  your  descendants 
will  be  unable  to  appreciate  the  intrinsic 
worth  «>f  the  Government  transmitted 
to  them. 

"As  for  myself,  fellow  citizen,  accept 
,1  sincere  assurance  that  during  my  con 
tinuance  in  the  situation  in  which  the 
President  of  the  United  States  has  been- 


.14 


pleased  to  place  me,  every  exertion  will 
i>e  made  on  uiy  part  to  foster  your  inter 
nal  happiness,  and  forward  your  general 
welfare;  for  it  is  o::ly  by  such  meftr.s 
tl'uT  1  can  secure  to  myself  the  approi'a 
tTou  of  those  groat  and  just  men  wiio 
preside  in  the  councils  of  our  nation." 

The  Commissioners  then  went  to  the 
balcony  of  the  Cabildo,  and  on  their  ap 
pearance  the  French  flag  was  lowered 
and  the  American  Hag  'hoisted,  \\lien 
they  met  half  way  a  gun  was  fired  as 
a  signal,  and  Immediately  the  land  bat- 
t'-'ries  began  their  discharges,  which  were 
responded  to  by  the  armed  vessels  in 
the  ri\;-r. 

The  following  proclamation   was  made: 

PROCLAMATION       OF       GOVERNOR 
CLAIBORNE. 

"By  His  Excellency  William  C.  C.  Clai- 
borne,  Governor  of  the  Mississippi  Ter 
ritory,  exercising  the  powers  of  Gover 
nor  General  and  Intendant  of  the 
Province  of  Louisiana. 

"Whereas,  By  stipulations  between  tho 
Governments  of  Fiance  and  Spain,  the 
latter  ceded  to  the  former  the  colony 
and  province  of  Louisiana,  with  the  same 
extent  which  it  had  at  the  date  of  the 
above  mentioned  treaty  in  the  hands  of 
Spain,  and  that  it  had  when  France 
possessed  it,  and  such  as  it  ought  to 
be  after  the  treaties  subsequently  entered 
into  between  Spain  and  other  States: 
mid,  wnereas.  the  Government  of 
France  has  ceded  the  .same  to  the  United 
States  tT.v  a  treaty  duly  ratified,  and 
bearing  date  of  3uth  of  April,  in  the 
present  year,  r.nd  the  possession  of  said 
colony  and  province  is  now  in  the  United 
States,  according  to  the  tenor  of  the  last 
mentioned  treaty;  and,  whereas,  the  Con 
gress  of  the  United  States,  on  the  31st 
day  of  October,  in  the  present  year,  did 
enact  that  until  the  expiration  of  the 
session  of  Congress  rhen  sitting  (unless 
provisions  for  the  temporary  government 
of  the  said  Territories  be  sooner  made 
by  Congress),  all  the  military,  civil  and 
judicial  powers,  exercised  by  the  then 
existing  Government  of  the  same,  shall 
be  vested  in  such  person  or  persons,  and 
.shall  be  exercised  in  such  manner,  as  the 
President  of  the  United  States  shall 
direct,  for  tha  maintaining  and  protect 
ing  the  inhabitants  of  Louisiana  in  the 
free  enjoyment  of  their  liberty,  property 
and  religion:  and  the  President  of  the 
United  rotates  has,  by  his  commission, 
bearing  the  date  the  same  31st  day  of 
October,  invested  me  with  all  the 
powers,  and  charged  me  with  the  several 
duties  "heretofore  held  and  exercised 
by  the  Governor  General  and  Intendant 
of  the  province. 

"1  have,  therefore,  thought  fit  to  issue 
this  my  proclamation,  making  known 
the  premises,  and  to  declare  that  the 
Government  heretofore  exercised  over 
the  said  province  of  Louisiana,  as  well 
as  under  the  authority  of  Span  as  of 
the  French  Republic,  has  ceased,  and 
That  of  the  United  States  of  America  i.s 
established  over  the  same;  that  the  in 
habitants  thereof  will  be  Incorporated 
in  the  Union  of  the  United  States;  that, 
in  the  meantime,  they  shall  be  main 
tained  and  protected  in  the  free  enjoy 
ment  of  their  liberty,  property  and  the 
religion  which  they  profess:  that  all 


laws  and  municipal  regulations  which 
were  in  existence  at  the  cessation  of 
tr.e  !.;te  Government  remain  in  full 
iorce;  and  that  ail  ci\il  officers  charged 
with  their  execution,  except  those  whose 
powers  have  been  especially  vested  in 
me.  and  except  also  such  officers  as  have 
been  intrusted  with  the  collection  of 
tlie  revenue,  are  continued  in  their 
functions,  during  the  pleasure  of  the 
Governor  for  the  time  being,  or  until 
provision  shall  otherwise  be  made. 

"And  I  do  hereby  exhort  and  enjoin 
all  the  inhabitants  and  other  persons 
within  the  said  province  to  be  faithful 
and  true  in  their  allegiance  to  the  United 
States,  and  obedient  to  the  laws  and  au 
thorities  of  the  same,  under  full  assur 
ance  that  their  just  rights  will  be  under 
the  guardianship  of  the  United  States, 
and  will  be  maintained  from  all  force 
or  violence  from  without  or  within. 

"In  testimony  whereof  I  have  hereunto 
set  my  hand.  Given  at  the  city  of  Mew 
Orleans  the  20th  day  of  December,  1803, 
and  of  the  independence  of  the  United 
States  of  America,  the  28th.  . 

"W.    C.    C.    CLA1BOKNE." 

PROCES  VERBAL  OF  THE  CENTEN 
NIAL  CELEBRATION. 

On  the  19th  day  of  December,  1903.  the 
Centennial  of  the  transfer  of  Louisiana 
by  France  to  the  United  States,  a  com 
memorative  meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
this  parish  was  held  at  the  Courthouse, 
in  the  presence  of  the  officials  of  the 
parish. 

After  reading  the  foregoing  historical 
documents,  the  proclamation  of  His 
Excellency  the  Governor,  and  hearing  pat 
riotic  addresses,  the  American  flag  was 
hoisted. 

The  undersigned,  parochial  officers  and 
citizens,  as  a  record  of  the  Centennial 
celebration  in  this  parish,  have  signed 
this  pVoces  verbal,  and  deposited  the 
same  with  th,^  records  of  the  parish. 

Done  at  -  this  19th  day  of 

December.  1903.  an.cl  of  the  independence 
of  the  United  States,  the  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eighth  year. 

THE  ABOVE  PROCES  VERBAL 

is  to  be  signed  by  the  officers  of  parishes 
in  Louisiana  'in  which  the  transfer  will 
be  commemorated,  and  a  similar  docu 
ment  will  also  be  prepared  for  signatures 
by  the  persons  participating  in  the  com 
memorative  ceremonies  at  the  Cabildo. 


List    of   Curiosities   in   the   Colonial 

Museum    in    Charge    of    Mr. 

Caspar    Cnsachs. 


1.  Flag    given    by    the    ladies    of    New 
Orleans    to    General    Jackson    after    the 
battle  of  Jan.  S,  1813. 

2.  Drum    of    Jordan    Noble,    who    was 
Jackson's    drummer. 

3.  Medal  presented   to   Noble,    by  Jack 
son.     The    inscription    is:     "Presented    to 
Jordan   B.   Noble,  Jan.   8,   1817,   by  Jack- 


,.1. 


GOV.   W.  C.  C.  CLAIBORNE, 
The  First  American  Governor  of  Louisiana,    1804=1816. 


sou,  as  a  token  of  respect  for  the  veteran 
soldier."  On  the  reverse  is  a  spirited  en 
graving  of  the  Battle  of  New  Orleons. 

4.  Panopy      of      ancient      firearms    and 
swords,    including   Galvcz's    sword;    goin- 
tacrusted   kiiife   of    Herr.ard   de   Marigny; 
sword    and    scabbard    of    General    I).    15. 
Morgan:  sword  of  Captain  Edgar  Romcin : 
flint-lock   pistol  found  on  the  battle  field 
of   New    Orleans   in    1S1.V,    pistol   of   -lean 
Noel     Destrehan     USU3) :     sword     said    to 
have     belonged    to    Governor     Clalborne; 
dueling  pistols,   and   several   other  quaint 
and   obsolete    weapons. 

5.  Collection     of     flints     found     on  •  the 
b^ach       near       Chinchnba.       Tangipahoa 
Parish,   La. 

0.  A   French   Market   scenr.   by   Clague. 
a    1111111116    painting    showing    Guei'in    and 


one  of  his  pals  drinking  coffee  at  Kose 
Nicaud's  stand.  Guerin  was  a  famous 
outlaw  fifty  or  more  years  ago. 

7.  Water  color  street  scene  on  Chartres 
Street,  between  Customhouse  and  Bieiv 
viMe.  fifty  years  agu. 

*.  Prim,  showintr  north  siae  of  Canal 
Street,  between  Royal  and  Bourbon; 
Ju.dah  rouro's  residence  and  store;  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church. 

9.  An      aqua    fortis.       by      Wickstrom, 
"Courtyard;"    Royal    Street. 

10.  Commission   of  Jean    Michel   Murat 
signed   by   Napoleon. 

11.  Portrait   of   Lafayette. 

12.  General       Jackson's       drum-major; 
portrait    painted   in   1820. 

"I.",.   Mir-iature    of    Fere    Antoine. 
14.   Miniature    of   Judah    Touro. 


15.   Miniature   of   Henry    Clay. 

lt>.   Miniature    of    Geneial    Jackson. 

17.  Miniature    of    Napoleon. 

18.  Miniature   of    Washington. 

ID.    Miniature   of   the   lirst    French   Con 
sul.   New  Orleans.   1804. 

20.  Proclamation,  by  O'Reilly,  Sept.  -i, 
176l>,    regulating    the    number   and    hours 
of   taverns. 

21.  Proclamation    of    President   Thomas 
Jefferson     calling     the     Congress     of     the 
United    States   to    meet    Oct.    17,    1803,    tr> 
consider     matters     relating     to     the    pur 
chase   of   Louisiana. 

22.  Pass     .i-nd     portrait     of      John       B. 
Noble.    Jackson's    dr  immer.       (This    pass 
was    issued    by    the    North,    Central    and 
South   Amerk'in  Exposition,   to   Noble,  in 
1884-85). 

23.  Tobacco  knife  used   by  the   Spanish 
coloiiists. 


»  30.  Plan  of  the  proposed  town  of  Ver 
sailles,  below  New  Oriels,  and  of  the 
DelaionJe  I'lantation,  i-.'-t.  Bernard 
Parish. 

31.  Letter  of   Governor   CaKier.   of   Mis 
sissippi,     in     IMi-l.     r-'laihe     to     fugitives 
from   justice   from    Mississippi   to  Mobile. 

32.  Commission  of   Governor   G'.iyoso  de 
Lemos. 

33.  Commission   of    Governor    D'Abadie. 

34.  Commission    of    (Governor    G.ilvez. 

35.  The  title  of  the  Louisiana  Territory 
to     Timi.alier     Island     at     the     mouth    o£ 
Eayou    Lafourche.    in    .St.    Bernard    Bay, 
by   Governor   Caror.dclet.    Feb.   25,   17'Jij. 

'3b'.  'iitle  of  tiie  Territory  of  Louisiana 
to  Caiilonx  Island  by  Governor  Estebea 
Miro,  Feb.  ±».  1788. 

37.  Pass  issued  by  M.tyor  Macarty.  ot 
New  Orleans  to  Mrs.  Joachim  Oserno, 
wife  of  thf  (;f>venior  of  East  Florida,  to 


C.    F.   CLAIIiORNK. 
Grandson  of  Governor   Claibon 


25.  Collection  of  lithographic  views  of 
cities,  towns  and  landings  _on  the  Mis 
sissippi  and  Ohio  Rivers,  17UU. 

2U.  Letter  of  Governor  Miro  to  the 
Commissioners  of  Georgia  relative  to  the 
escape  of  certain  malefactors. 

27.  B!il    and       receipt    of    the      Proctor 
family    to   Geseral    Beauregard,    for    the 
sale  of  the  site  for  Fort  Proctor,  in  ISou, 
to   the    United   States    Government. 

28.  Confidential     letter     of     Gaines,     to 
Secretary     of     War.     recommending     the 
purchase   of    the   siie  at   Proctor. 

29.  Miscellaneous     documents      relating 
to   th"   year   of  purchase.   1803,    with   sig 
nature  of  W.  C.  C.  Cla-.borne  and  others. 

24.  Constitution  of  the  New  Orleans 
IHble  Society,  1813. 


C.   DE  B.   CLAIBORXK. 

Great-Grandson    of    Governor   Claiborne. 


cross  the  lake  (Pontchartraln)  with  her 
fami.y  an.d  slaves,  on  her  way  to  i'ensa- 
cola. 

38.  Miscellaneous  papers  of  General  D. 
B.  Morg.in,  1815. 

30.  Various  edicts  of  the  Frencll 
Crowr,,  1717-175:,. 

4ii.  Rules  an.l  reu'ulations  for  soiling 
vessels  from  France  to  the  \\"e;t  indies, 
and  to  New  Orleans. 

41.  Edict     ord-  rin--     jiayin'Mit    of    debts, 
due    the    colony      of    Louisiana      by    the 
"Conipngnie   des  Indes." 

42.  1'ro'es    verl»al.     'Det'ore    a    notary    In 
France,  of  the    leath  of   Governor  Aubry, 
w!io    was   drowr.ed  ..it    sea    0:1    his    return 
to    France. 


..17. 


43.  Collection    of    autograph    letters    or 
Galvcz,    Miro,    De    Lemos,    ikilcedo,    etc., 
Spaiusn    v,o\criior.s   ui    Louisiana. 

44.  rlnc    "Black    Code"    of   18u5. 

4o.  Cupping  fiom  L'Abeile  cle  la  Nou- 
velle  Orleans,  Jan.  22,  1822,  relative  to 
the  funeral  ui  Padre  Antonio  de  Sedella. 

40.  JL  oi.tiLul  budges,  of  silk,  with  por 
traits  ot  Henry  Ciay,  Jaaies  j-v.  Poll; 
and  General  L,ewis  Cass. 

4f.  Memorial  uauge  of  the  unveiling  oi! 
Clay  otatue,  I8i.0. 

48.  Badge  ot  the  Louisiana  volunteers 
in  the  Mexican  War,  1840,  inscribed, 
"We  Answered." 

40.  l\vo  colonial  coins  found  four  feet 
underground,  uJi  Royal  Street,  while 
laying  conuuits. 

50.  Commission      of        Don       Francisco 
Maxeu  t,    Captain    of    the    nrst    regiment 
o«-;    militia    organized    in    this    city    under 
Spanisn   nomination    in   17YO. 

51.  Views   of   the\old    Parish    1'rison. 

52.  Code  of  Laws  of  O'Reiliy,  the  first 
law    book    published    in    French    in    .New 
Orleahs,    Nov.    25,    17bO. 

53.  The    "Black    Code,"    O'Reilly,    May 
14,    l'«  i'i. 

54.  Proclamation    of    Laussat.     Colonial 
Prefect,    Nov.   ^0,   1803,    when   the   colony 
was    transferred      by    Spain      to      I1  ranee, 
twenty    days    before    the    transfer    from 
l<.i-uii<.ti   to   tlie   United    States. 

55.  Proclamation    of    Laussat,    Colonial 
Prefect,  on  the  .day  of  the  transfer  from 
France    to    the    United    States. 

50.  Book  of  travels  of  Kev.  Laval,  a 
Jesuit,  1<22. 

57.  i'ortrait     of     Charles     Gayarre,     the 
historian. 

58.  I'ortrait    of    Etieune    de    Bore,    first 
French    Mayor   of   New   Orleans. 

50.   I'ortrait    of   Pere   Antoiue. 

70.  I'ortrait  of  Don  Andres  Almonaster 
y  Koxas,  loander  of  the  St.   Louts  Cathe 
dral. 

71.  I'ortrait    of    Father    Dagobert,     an 
cient    reel  or    of   the    Cathedral. 

72.  Copy       oi     the     "Moniteur       de     La 
Louisiane"     containing    news    about    the 
transfer  of  the   colony.   1802-03. 

7,'5.  Oil  painting  of  Commodore  Rous- 
seau.  who  commanded  the  Naval  Corps 
which  took  part  i.i  Galvez's  expeditious 
agah-.st  the  English. 

74.  Commission    of    Commodore      Rous- 
sean,   signed  by   the  King  of  Spain. 

75.  Inventory,    showing    that    the    total 
value  of   property   transferred   by    France 
to    Snniu      hi    this    colony    in      1(70    was 
$200,000. 

7(i.  Judgment  decreeing  the  confiscation 
of  the  properties  of  the  Jesuits  in  Louisi- 
<n>;i  in  17tiM. 

77.  Diary  of  the  Intendant  of  Bienvlllc, 
at   Fort    St   Louis,    Mobile,   1722. 

78.  List      of   officers,      and      names     of 
soldiers   in   Louisiana  at   the   time  of  the 
cession    in    1.S03. 

70  Plan  of  the  Mississippi  River,  from 
Natchez  to  Eaton  Rouge,  and  from  Baton 
]?on<rp  to  New  Orleans,  with  names  of 
all  planters  on  each  side  of  the  river, 

SO.  Sword  of  Zachary  Taylor,  presented 
to  General  Taylor  after  the  Mexican 
War,  by  Congress.  It  is  a  most  valuable 
relic,  worth  $2">.  000. 

81.  Gold  medal  voted  by  Congress  to 
General  Zachary  Taylor  in  recognition 
of  his  services  in  the  Mexican  War. 


82.  Copy    of    proclamation      issued      by 
Laussat.    Colonial    Prefect    of    France.    LJ 
1803. 

83.  From  Hon.  B.  R.  Forman,  a  number 
of    .are    old    uooks    relating    lu    the    can.- 
aays    of    tne    American    colony,    and    also 
to    rue    reconstruction    period*   in    Louis-i 
mm. 

5i.  From  Mr.  Henry  Vignaud,  formerly 
oj.  New  Orleans,  and  at  piesent  Secretary 
o£  ihe  American  Legation  in  Paris,  copy 
of  a  work  entitled,  "La  Route  des  indes. 
indications  que  Tosca  nelli  aurait  fout- 
uies  a  Christuphe  Colomb." 

85.  From  lion.  W.  H.  Seymour,  a  batch 
ot  interesting  doc':.u'ents:  An  act  ol' 
emancipation  of  a  ssiave,  signed, by  Ker 
lerec.  i- reuch  Go.ernor  of  the  State  or 
Louisiana,  Jan.  20,  17U1;  petition  for 
emannipation  adtuessed  to  the  Kiug'b- 
Council,  approved  uy  Lalremere,  Attor-- 
ney  General,  and  dated  Feb.  10,  1700. 

80.  Transcript  of  documents  on  tile-' 
in  the  archh  es  of  the  Minister  of  the 
Colonies  ill  Paris.  France,  which  trans 
cript  was  made  by  M.  Tantet.  Secretary 
of  the  Archives,  specially  lor  the  Louisi 
ana  Historical  Society,  at  the  request  ol' 
Prof.  Fortier,  who.  while  on  a  visit  U 
faris,  in  1000,  arranged  for  the  copy 
of  the  documents  relating  to  the  historu. 
epoch  of  1803.  The  documents  com 
prised  in  this  handsome,  and  very  ornate 
volume,  gilt  top,  of  4iO  parchment  page*.,, 
relate  to  Louisiana,  the  events  of  I80c, 
retrocession  by  Spain  to  France  and  ce^ 
sion  by  France  to  the  United  States.  On-: 
of  the  documents,  dated  April  0.  180^'. 
is  an  address,  signed  by  the  citizens  oi 
New  Orleans,  to  Mr.  Laussat.  the  Colon 
ial  Prefect.  The  citizens  express  thek 
joy  at  being  once  more  under  the  Frencu 
domination,  and  assure  the  Prefect,  thav 
thirty-four  years  of  a  foreign  regime  have 
not  weakened  in  their  hearts  their  love 
for  the  mother  country.  Among  the 
names  of  those  ancient  inhabitants  of 
New  Orleans  are  the  following,  whose 
descendants  are  still  living  here:  Michel 
Fortier,  Michel  Fortier,  Jr.,  (the  former 
being  great-grandfather  of  Prof.  Alcee 
Fortier),  Henri  Fortier,  Joseph  Faurie, 
J.  De  Buys,  C.  B.  Dufour,  A.  Pey- 
tavin.  Cavelier.  Sr.,  Paul  Lanusse.  Jean 
Archinard,  Stephen  Zacharie,  F.  Duples- 
sis,  Lefebvre,  J.  B.  Dejean,  N.  Bomious- 
•(juie,  Lillie  Sarpy,  J.  Soule,  F.  Jacob, 
l'i(>rre  Hardy,  Joseph  Gravier,  Antonio 
Jung,  J.  Dueornanx,  F.  Girod.  C. 
Boutte,  J.  C.  Verrett,  R.  J.  Ducros, 
Ktienne  Trepagnier.  Armand  Magnon.  P. 
Cnzelar,  J.  Livaudais,  1'.  Millet.  L.  Der- 
bigny,  H.  Bernard,  E.  Planche,  H. 
Pi.sei-os.  'Francois  Blache.  P.  Dejan.  B. 
Durel.  Charles  Parent,  mid  many  others. 

87.  Papers  and  documents  belonging  to 
the  Soniat-Dufossat  family,  comprising, 
among  others,  the  manuscript  of  a  synop 
sis  of  the  history  of  Louisiana  from  the 
beginning  of  the  Colony  to  the  end  of 
the  year  JY91,  by  the  Chevalier  Guy 
Sonia't  Du  Fossat.  officer  of  the  French 
Army,  who  came  to  New  Orleans  in  1751, 
and 'was  the  founder  of  the  American 
branch  of  the  Souiat  family.  This  manu 
script  was  translated  by  Hon.  Charles 
T.  Soniat.  a  descendant  of  the  Chevalier, 
and  the  translation  was  published  by  Mr. 
Soniat  at  his  own  expense,  and  donateii 
to  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society. 

Collection  of  Win.  II.  Seymour,  Algiers,. 
La.: 


Autographs  of  the-  Presidents  of  the 
United  states,  from  \\  asnington  to 
Roosevelt:  Chas.  Carroll,  signer  of  the 
Declaration  «t  Independence;  JLaiayette, 
Mr.  ar.d  Mrs.  Jefferson  Davis,  18(2-i892s 
all  under  yi^ss  fiaine. 

Autogiophs  of  the  Governors  of  Louisi 
ana,  tror.i  Bienville.  (1700)  to  Heard; 
French,  Spanish.  American  and  Military. 
Patent  from  James  Monroe,  President 
of  the  I'nited  States,  to  John  MeDoiiogn, 
lot  on  Conde  Street,  now  1201  Chartres, 
corner  of  Hospital  Street,  7th  of  August, 
1821. 

President's  commission,  signed  by 
George  WushlvQton,  dated  May  30,  17915. 
War  letter  signed  by  Louis  XIV,  King 
of  France,  after  whom  Louisiana  was 
named,  dated  5th  of  August,  1676,  coun 
tersigned  by  Phelypeaux,  Count  ot 
I'oritehartrain,  Minister  and  Chancellor 
of  France. 

Commission  signed  by  Louis  XVI, 
March  6,  1658. 

Commission  signed  by  Louix  XVI,  Jan. 
13,  1775. 

St.    Louis    Cathedral.    1794. 
Battle  of  New  Orleans,  rare  old  print, 
1817. 

Jackson's  last  letter  (original)  prior  to 
the  battle  Jan.  7,  1815;  letters  and  books 
with  his  autograph. 

Cannon  balls  and  shells  found  years  ago 
at  Chalmette. 

Oil  paintings,  Lafitte's  home  at  Bara- 
taria.  Lake  Pontchartiain,  "In  the  Land 
of  Evangeline,"  Pere  Antoine,  Plans  of 
New  Orleans,  1719,  1728,  1744.  1798. 

Grant,  Lincoln  and  Jefferson  Davis, 
photos,  with  letters  and  autographs. 

"Le  Chretien  en  Solitude,"  a  book  used 
in  this  edifice  in  1737. 

Old  Spanish  vase  dug  from  the  founda 
tion  of  Fort  Burgundy,  Rampart  and 
Iberville  Streets. 

Ulster  Comity  Gazette.  New  York.  3800; 
The  Telegraphe,  New  Orleans,  La.,  Nov. 
9.  180,5.. 

Slave  sale,  by  John  Roo.sevelt.  Ne\v 
York.  5tli  of  April,  1796. 

Slave  sale  in  New  Orleans,  and  Sheriff's 
moration,  1826. 

State  and  city  tax  receipts,  1807,  1814, 
1815. 

Autograph  copy  signatures  of  members 
of  the  Secession  Convention  of  Louisi 
ana.  January.  1861. 

The  Superior  Council  of  France  in 
Louisiana,  1769. 


PROF.     FORTIER' S    HISTORICAL    EX 
HIBIT. 

Portrait  of  Colonel  Michel  Fortier 
(1750-1819). 

Portrait  of  his  wife,  Marie  Rose  Durel, 
and  little  daughter. 

Commission  of  Michel  Fortier  as  Cap 
tain  of  Artillery,  signed  by  Charles  111, 
of  Spain. 

Commission  of  Michel  Fortier  as  Cap 
tain  of  Artillery,  signed  by  Laussat,  Col 
onial  Prefect. 

Portrait  of  Colonel  Alexandre  La 
Branche,  who  commanded  a  regiment  in 
the  campaign  of  1814-1815.  and  was  a 
signer  of  the  first  Constitution  of  the 
State  of  Louisiana. 

Curious  watch  of  the  eighteenth  cen 
tury  which  belonged  to  the  wife  of  Col 
onel  La  Branche. 


Miniature  portraits  of  Valcour  Airne, 
pioneer  in  refining  sugar  in  Louisiana, 
and  his  wile.  Josephine  Roman. 

Colonel  Fortier  was  born  in  New  Or 
leans  in  1Y50.  His  father  was  a  wealthy 
merchant  and  one  of  the  signers  of  the 
protest  against  Ulloa's  decree  about  com 
merce  in  1756.  Colonel  Fortier  took  part 
in  the  campaigns  of  Galvez  against  the 
British  trom  1779  to  1781.  and  was  re 
warded  'by  being  appointed  by  the  King 
a  Captain  of  Artillery  in  the  Louisiana 
Militia.  He  was  lor  several  years  a  mem 
ber  of  the  Spanish  Cabildo,  and  was  ap 
pointed  by  Laussat.  on  Dec.  30,  1803,  a 
member  of  the  Municipal  Council  of  New 
Orleans.  He  remained  in  office  under  the 
American  domination  until  1805.  He  rose 
to  the  rank  of  Colonel  in  the  militia  of 
Louisiana,  and  rendered  great  service 
during  the  campaign  of  1814  and  1815. 
His  son,  Colonel  Michel  Fortier,  Jr.,  was 
aid-de-camp  to  Governor  Claiborne,  and 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  New  Orleans. 
Colonel  Michel  Fortier,  Sr.,  was  a  ship 
owner,  merchant  and  sugar  planter,  and 
was  noted  for  his  philanthropy.  He  died 
in  1819.  His  second  son,  Edward,  a  sugar 
planter  of  St.  Charles  Parish,  man-led  a 
daughter  of  Colonel  Alexandre  La 
Branche.  One  of  his  sons.  Florent  For 
tier.  married  a  'daughter  of  Valcour 
Aime,  the  distinguished  sugar  planter 
and  philanthropist  of  St.  James  Parish. 
He  was  a  man  of  culture  and  a  writer 
of  graceful  French  poetry.  He  was  the 
fatuer  of  Prof.  Alcee  Fortier.  the  Presi 
dent  of  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society, 
and  the  uncle  of  Captain  Michel  Y. 
Fortier.  of  Battery  C,  Louisiana  Field 
Artillery.  Edmond,  one  of  the  brothers 
of  Florent.  Fortier,  was  also  a  cultured 
gentleman.  He  was  the  maternal  grand 
father  of  James  M.  Augustin,  a  member 
of  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society,  and 
of  the  staff  of  the  Picavune. 


FROM   DR.    C.   H.    TEBAULT. 

Passport  issued  to  Christopher  Hall, 
of  Norfolk.  Va.,  in  1826,  from  the  United 
States  Government.  Mr.  Hall  was '  dele 
gated  to  go  to  Paris,  France,  to  take  in- 
fonration  to  General  Lafayette  of  the 
death  of  Thomas  Jefferson  and  John 
Adams.  Mr.  Hall  brought  back  a  letter 
from  Lafayette  to  General  Taylor,  a  copy 
of  which  letter  is  also  exhibited.  Mr. 
Hall  was  Dr.  Tebault's  grandfather. 

First  copies  of  the  second  edition  of 
Jefferson's  "Notes  on  the  State  of  Vir 
ginia,"  published  in  1801. 

Picture  of  the  old  Tinsley  homestead 
in  Richmond,  Va.,  also  mourning  badges 
worn  bv  members  of  the  Virginia  Legis 
lature,  of  which  Thomas  Tinsley  (great 
grandfather  of  Mrs.  Tebault)  was  a  mem 
ber. 

THE    DE    THULSTRUP    PAINTING. 

From  de  Thulstrup,  of  New  York,  the 
celebrated  painter  of  military  scenes, 
there  is  exhibited  a  large  painting  repre 
senting  the  scene  of  the  Louisiana  Trans 
fer.  The  artist  came  to  New  Orleans  last 
3  ear  expressly  to  study  the  locality  of  the 
great  event.  Mr.  T.  P.  Thompson,  of  the 
Louisiana  Historical  Society,  has  secured 
this  'exhibit  for  the  Colonial  Museum. 


,.19.. 


THE   PICAYUNE 


BORN     IN    THE    EARLY    PART    OF  THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURY 

AND  KEEPING  STEP  WITH  THE  CITY'S  PROGRESS, 

IT  HAS  A  PLACE  IN  THIS  CENTENNIAL 

COMMEMORATION. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Louisiana  His 
torical  Committee  oil  Commemoration 
of  the  Louisiana  Transfer  it  was  re 
solved  that  nothing  less  than  fifty 
years  old  would  be  given  space  in  the 
Historical  and  Colonial  Museum. 
Under  the  rules,  therefore,  THE 
PICAYUNE,  which  is  seventeen 
years  older  than  half  a  century,  has 
been  admitted  into  the  Exhibit  in  the 
Arckiepiscopal  Palace,  and  its  first 
numbers  occupy  a  prominent  niche 
among  the  interesting  reminders  of 
the  City's  youth. 

It  is,  with  the  exception  of  the 
French  daily,  "L'Abeille,"  the  oldest  in 
Louisiana.  It  shares  with  "L'Abeille" 
-and  the  Deutsche  Zeituug  the  honor  of 
being  the  only  publication  which  sur 
vived  the  Civil  War.  THE  PICA 
YUNE  wes  founded  in  January,  1837, 
by  George  Wilkins  Kendall  and  Fran 
cis  Lumsden,  two  practical  printers. 
The  paper  was,  at  first  a  four-page 
folio,  with  four  columne  to  the  page. 
It  was  so  successful  that  it  was  found 
necessary,  within  a  few  months,  to 
enlarge  the  sheet,  and  it  continued  !o 
grow  until  it  has  reached  its  present 
dimensions.  The  present  site  has 
been  occupied  since  1847.  '  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Lumsden.  who  was 
drowned  in  Lake  Erie  in  1800.  Mr. 
Kendall  continued  the  publication  of 
THE  PICAYUNE  with  Messrs.  Hoi- 
brook  and  P>ullitt.  Upon  the  death  of 
Mr.  Kendall  in  3807,  Mr.  Holbrook  ac 
quired  the  sole  control.  He  died  in 
1870,  and  his  widow,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Eliza  Jane  Poitevent. 
known  to  the  world  of  letters  as  the 
sweet  Southern  poet.  "Pearl  Rivers," 
took  charge  of  the  paper  and  managed 
it  successfully,  with  the  assistance  of 
Mr.  George  Nicholson,  a  man  of  ex 


ceptionally  fine  business  talents,  who 
had  been  business  manager  of  THE 
PiCAYUNE  for  many  years.  In 
1878,  Mr.  Nicholson  and  Mrs.  Hol- 
>brook  were  married,  and  the  firm 
name  became  Nicholson  «fc  Co.  Mr, 
Nicholson  died  in  February,  189G,  and 
within  ten  days,  his  wife  followed 
him  to  the  grave.  Side  by  side  they 
sleep  in  Metairie  Cemetery.  THE 
PICAYUNE  is  now  managed  under 
the  title  of  "Estate  of  Mrs.  E.  J. 
Nicholson,"  in  the  interest  of  her  two 
sons,  Leonard  K.,  and  Yorke  P. 
Nicholson. 

THE  PICAYUNE  has  had  a  most 
eventful  history  during  its  long  exis 
tence  of  sixty-seven  years.  Mr.  Ken 
dall  brought  the  paper  into  great 
celebrity  during  the  Mexican  War, 
representing  it  in  the  field  with  the 
army  of  invasion,  and  thus  being  en 
titled  to  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
of  the  now  numerous  tribe  of  war  cor 
respondents.  He  succeeded,  by 
means  of  a  pony  express,  in  getting 
news  to  THE  PICAYUNE,  and 
through  it  to  the  world,  in  advance  of 
even  the  Government  dispatches. 
Mrs.  Nicholson's  management  of  the 
paper  was  exceptionally  brilliant,  and 
she  is  entitled  to  the  honor  of  having 
been  the  first  woman  in  the  world 
who  successfully  managed  a  great 
daily.  The  recent  enterprise  of  THE 
PICAYUNE,  equipped  as  it  is  with 
the  most  modern  and  improved  mn- 
chinery  that  science  has  devised  for 
newspaper  production,  has  been  wor 
thy  of  its  early  fame.  During  the 
great  and  disastrous  storm  at  OhCn- 
iere  Caminada.  in  1803.  it  was  not 
only  the  first  to  give  the  full  news  of 
the  catastrophe,  hut  chartered  a 
steamboat  to  send  food  and  clothing 


-  20.. 


supplies   to   the   sufferers.     It    touk  the    | 
initiative  in  New  Orleans  in  providing    • 
and  securing  subscriptions  for  the  suf 
ferers    of    the    late    great    disaster    at 
Galveston,     helped     to     organize     the 
ladies  of  the  city  into  a  relief  associa 
tion  and  sent  money,  clothes  and  medi 
cine  valued  nt  $50,000  to  the  relief  of 
the  storm-stricken  people. 

During  the  recent  war  with  Spain 
ii  wtis  represented  in  the  Held  by  two 
staff  correspondents,  a:id  by  alliance 
with  the  New  York  Herald  secured 
unrivaled  special  cable  service.  In 
the  midst  of  all  the  changing  events 
of  more  than  sixty  years,  THE  PICA 
YUNE  has  appeared  regularly  every 
morning  except  during  the  year  18(54. 
M  hen,  for  a  brief  period,  the  offices 
were  in  the  hands  of  the  military  au 
thorities  and  the  publication  was  sus 
pended.  In  addition  to  the  Daily, 
THE  PICAYUNE  issues  a  Twice  a- 
Week  edition,  and  annually  at  Mardi- 
Gras  publishes  several  beautifully  il 
lustrated  editions,  known  far  and  wide 
as  the  "Carnival  Editions."  Within 
the  past  ten  years  THE  PICAYUNE 
has  devott  d  itself  sedulously  to  educa 
ting  the  South  in  the  importance  of 
building  cotton  mills  in  the  regions 
where  the  staple  is  produced.  In  this 
crusade  it  has.  at  large  expense,  sent 


members  of  its  staff  to  various  parts 
of'  the  Union,  and  especially  to  North 
Carolina  and  New  England,  to  study 
the  milling  enterprises,  which  havo 
been  so  successful  there.  Entirely  at 
its  own  cost  THE  PICAYUNE  sent 
Mr.  Hargrove,  one  of  these  correspon 
dents,  to  deliver  addresses  in  Miss 
issippi  and  Louisiana,  setting  forth 
the  result  of  his  investigations.  THE 
PICAYUNE  reprinted  the  articles  and 
letters  of  those  correspondents  in  two 
pamphlets,.,  of  which  more  than  45.000 
copies  were  distributed,  free,  through 
out  the  South.  Nothing  can  be  more- 
gratifying  to  THE  PICAYUNE  than 
the  appreciation  of  its  efforts  in  its 
home  city.  It  may  interest  the  tour 
ist  to  know  thsit  THE  PICAYUNE 
derives  its  name  from  an  old  Spanish 
coin  called  "picayon,"  which  was  in 
circulation  in  New  Orleans  in  the 
early  part  of  the  century.  Its  valua 
tion  was  about  6  1-4  cents.  The  price 
of  the  paper  when  originally  published 
was  a  picayune.  The  five  cent  that 
superceded  the  Spanish  under  Ameri 
can  coinage  was  designated  by  the 
Creoles  as  a  picayune.  The  term,  so 
picturesque  and  quaint,  is  still  heard 
frequently  in  New  Orleans  among 
buyers  and  sellers  in  the  old  French 
Quarter. 


THE   CELEBRATED   CELEBRATING 

SOCIETY. 

History    of    tlie    Louisiana,    Histor 
ical    Society. 

The  Louisiana  Historical  Society  was 
established  on  Jan.  15,  1836,  and  its 
first  President  was  Judge  Henry  A.  Bul- 
lard.  The  secretaries  were  Mr.  Harrison 
and  Mr.  Louis  Jauin;  ai:d  among  the 
officers  were:  Porter,  Martin,  Roman, 
Canonge  and  Barton.  Among  the  mem 
bers  were:  Gray,  Clapp,  Eustis,  Mc- 
Caleh,  Ingalls,  Winthrop,  Rost,  Watts, 
Deblienx  and  Leonard. 

In  1846  the  Society  was  organized  by 
the  following  gentlemen:  John  Perkins, 
.T.  D.  B.  DeEow,  Edmund  J.  Forstnll, 
Charles  Gaj/arre.  General  Joseph  Walk 
er  and  Alfred  Hennen.  The  celebrated 
jurist  and  historian,  Francois  Xavier 
Martin  was  elected  President.  He  died 
in.  December,  1846.  The  following  year 
the  Society  was  incorporated  and  Judge 
Henry  A.  Billiard  was  elected  President, 


and  John   Perkins   and   J.    D.    B.    DeBow, 
Secretaries. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature  in  1860 
it  was  decreed  that,  "in  the  event  of  a 
dissolution  of  the  Historical  Society,  all 
books,  maps,  records,  manuscripts  and 
collections  shall  revert  to  the  State, 
for  the  use  of  the  State  Library."  Judge 
Gayarre  was  elected  President  in  1800, 
and  for  seventeen  years  the  Society  was 
dormant,  because  of  the  Civil  War  and 
its  consequences.  In  April,  1877,  a 
new  charter  was  obtained  from  the 
Legislature,  and  the  domicile  of  the 
Society  was  transferred  from  Baton 
Rouge  to  New  Orleans.  The  incorpora- 
tors  in  1S77  were:  Charles  Gayarre, 
Francis  T.  Xicholls,  Louis  A.  Wiltz, 
Robert  M.  Lusher,  E.  T.  Merrick,  W. 
W.  Howe,  George  W.  Cable,  B.  J.  Sage, 
H.  B.  Magnifier,  William  Walker,  F.  S. 
Richardson,  Joseph  A.  Quintero,  George 
A.  Pike,  Alexander  Dimitry  and  J.  Dick- 
son  Bruns,  of  New  Orleans:  William  B. 
Eagan,  F.  C.  Blanchard  and  F.  J.  Al- 
cocke,  of  the  Parish  of  Caddo;  D.  C. 


21 


PROF.    A.    FORTIEll, 

President   Louisiana    Historical    Society. 


Montan  and  J.  M.  Williams,  of  the  Par 
ish  of  East  Baton  Rouge. 

The  object  of  the  Society,  as  stated 
in  the  act  of  1877,  is:  "The  collecting 
and  preserving  facts,  documents,  records, 
memorials,  relating  to  the  national, 
aboriginal  and  civil  history  of  the  State." 
In  1888  Judge  Gayarre  resigned  the 
presidency,  which  he  had  held  for  twen 
ty-eight  years,  and  Judge  \Y.  W.  Howe 
-succeeded  Judge  Gayarre  as  President 
and  remained  in  office  until  1S!>4,  when 
the  following  officers  were  elected:  Pres 
ident,  Prof.  Alcee  Fortier;  First  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Grace  King;  Second  Vice 
President,  Dr.  Gustave  Devron;  Secic- 
tary  and  Treasurer,  Prof.  John  R.  Fick- 
len:  Assistant  Secretary.  Prof.  J.  H. 
Rapp.  Dr.  Devron  died  in  1900.  Judge 
'Gayarre  died  in  1S'.).">. 

The  present  officers  are:  President, 
Prof.  Alcee  Fortier;  First  Vice  Presi 
dent,  Hon.  Justice  Joseph  A.  Breaux; 
Second  Vice  President,  Hon.  J.  S.  Zacli- 
sirie;  Secretary,  Miss  Grace  King;  Treas 
urer.  J.  W.  Cruzat;  Assistant  Secretary, 
Dr.  Charles  G.  Gill. 

The  Society  has  published  two  vol 
umes  of  its  proceedings  and  part  first 
of  the  third  volume  has  recently  been 
issued.  These  publications  are,  mainly, 
contributions  of  its  members.  It  intends 
to  publish  shortly  extracts  from  the 
verv  valuable  documents  in  its  custody, 
and'  it  has  received  from  the  custodian 
of  the  Archives  in  the  Ministry  of  the 


Colonies,  jur^  Paris,  France,  a  bound 
copy  of-' the  documents  relating  to  the 
history  of  Louisiana  in  ISOo,  with  fac- 
similies  of  the  most  important  papers. 

By  authority  of  the  Legislature  of 
Louisiana,  the  Society  has  prepared  the 
programme  for  this  celebration  of  the 
transfer  of  Louisiana  to  the  United 
States,  and  has  appropriated  a  sum  of 
money  for  that  purpose. 

The  Society,  mind.ul  of  the  importance 
of  all  documents  anil  papers  in  the 
Colonial  Archives  in  Paris,  France,  re- 
hit  ing  to  the  early  history  of  Louisiana, 
has  addressed  a  manorial  to  Congress, 
signed  by  the  Presidents  of  all  the  his 
torical  societies  in  the  Slates  formed 
out  of  the  original  Province  of  Louisi 
ana,  and  by  th:>  Governors  of  these 
States,  asking  for  the  publication  by 
the  United  States  of  the  records  afore- 
named  which  contain  hitherto  unpub- 


JOSKPH    A.    T'.HF.  MX. 

First     Vice     President,     Louisiana     Historical 
Society. 


listed  correspondence,  orders,  procla 
mations,  official  reports,  grains  of  lands 
and  privileges:  the  registration  of  births, 
mrrriag'.'s  and  death-;;  censuses,  finan 
cial  accounts  and  various  o;her  data  of 
gi-cat  interest  and  importance  to  stu 
dents  and  historians. 

The  Congress  is  petitioned  to  have 
tb'.s-  records  copied  ::nd  au  edition  print- 
eil  for  disfributio'.i.  as  public  documents, 
an:i.ng  Ihe  universities,  colle.'/es.  libra- 


ries,  historical  and  other  learned  socie 
ties  of  the  United  States,  and  that  an 
appropriation  be  made  for  that  pur- 
post*. 

Pro".  Fortier  lias  been  informed  by  the 
Archivist  in  Paris  that  the  total  cost 
of  copying  the  documents  will  not  ex 
ceed  .$2,000. 

The  Louisiana  Historical  Society  pos 
sesses  ve:  y  valuable  books  and  docu 
ments  pertaining  to  the  hh'.tory  of  the 
oolony  under  th.>  French  and  Spanish 
dominations.  It  w;;s  on  thesj  documents 
that  Charles  Gav.nre  based  his  "History 
of  Louisiana,"  written  in  French,  and 
published  in  IS-!,;,  and  l'-i-!7.  ai:d  also  his 
"History  (if  Louisiana"  in  English,  which 
was  rt'publishod  in  1UO:J  b  ,•  Miss  Grace 
Kiiv  and  Prof.  .1.  H.  Fieklen. 


3.    S.    ZACHARIE, 

Second  Vice  President,  Chairman  of  Invitation 
Committee,   Louisiana   Historical  Society. 


The  Society  hns  been  actively  en 
gaged,  and  will  be  for  years  to  come, 
in  the  work  of  investigation  nrl  classi 
fication  of  the  history  of  this  State. 
Amoi!'.,'  til?  Mibje.ts  worthy  of  study 
are  the  following:  (1)  History  of  the  In 
dians  of  Louisiana:  ('2)  history  of  the 
parishes;  (.'])  history  of  distinguished 
foreigners  w'.:.o  have  visited  Louisiana; 
(4)  the  laws  o<:  Louisiana;  (5)  biogra 
phies  of  fauioi-.s  Loaisianians;  ((>)  the 
development  of  agriculture:  (7)  Io- al 
customs  a:id  dialects:  (8)  literature  and 
education:  i'.>)  o'.l  :n-';s;  ilO)  history  of 
the  State  from  isir>  to  1S:>3. 


The  Society  holds  monthly  meetings, 
at  which  original  historical  documents 
are  exhibited  and  papers  are  read  by 
members.  The  Society  has  honorary  and 
corresponding  members  in  this  and  other 
States  and  abroad.  Every  effort  is  made 
to  bring  the  Society  into  close  touch 
with  other  historical  societies  of  the 
United  States. 

On  the  2tl  of  May.  1901,  the  Society 
had  the  honor  of  receiving  and  welcom 
ing  the  Hon.  William  McKinley,  the 
twenty-sixth  President  of  the  United 
States,  in  the  venerable  Cabildo  Build- 
in  •/.  and  to  hear  within  its  walls  patri- 
o:ie  expressions  of  his  great  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  State  of  Louisiana, 
and  of  the  important  part  the  acquisi 
tion  of  Louisiana  occupied  in  the  ad 
vancement  and  the  history  of  the  United 
States.  A  few  months  later  the  beloved 
President  was.  struck  down  by  an  as 
sassin. 

On  the  10th  of  October,  1901,  the  So 
ciety  adopted  resolutions  in  memory  of 
the  martyred  President,  concluding  as 
follows: 

"This  Society,  in  common  with  ail 
citizens,  desire's  to  add  its  words  of 
sorrow  to  those  that  have  sprung  from 
so  many  hearts,  and  to  mourn  for  one 
that  was  so  lately  the  guest  of  honor, 
and  of  whom  it  will  always  cherish 
kindly  recollections.  As  a  president  of 
the  United  States,  and  as  an  American 
statesman,  our  deceased  guest  occupied 
an  eminent  place  in  the  history  of  our 
country,  while  his  tragic  end  touched 
our  hearts,  and  his  tender  devotion  to 
an  invalid  wife  gave  the  example  to 
every  home  in  the  land  of  a  devoted  and 
model  husband. 

"The  Louisiana  Historical  Society, 
mindful  that  no  words  of  its  own  ^an 
assuage  a  widow's  grief,  desires  to  offer 
to  the  President's  widow  its  respectful 
sympathy  in  her  great  bereavement,  and 
to  place  in  its  records  on  a  memorial 
page  this  expression  of  irs  esteem  and 
sorrow." 

Two  years  later,  on  the  30th  of  April, 
1903,  the  Louisiana  Historir-.il  Society 
was  the  prime  factor  in  an  imposing  cele 
bration  of  the  centennial  of  the  signing 
of  the  treaty  between  France  and  the 
United  Stat.s  for  the  cession  of  the  col 
ony.  Many  distinguished  citizens  were 
present,  and  addresses  were  made  by 
the  Hn>i.  Francis  T.  Xicholls,  Chief  Jus. 
tice  of  the  StMte  Supreme  Court:  Plon 
,Ios.  A.  Ereaux,  Associate  Justice;  Prot. 
Alcee  Fortier,  President  of  the  Lou 
isiana  Historical  Society:  Hon.  Albert 
Estopinal,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  the 
ivtate;  Hon.  Charles  T.  Soniat,  who  read;' 
the  speech  tliat  was  to  ha\e  been  de 
livered  by  H.  n.  Paul  Capdevielle,  M-.iyor 
of  the  city.  His  Hono:1  being  unavoidably 
absent.  'Hon.  ,7.  S.  Zacharie  read  the 
Treaty  of  Cession  in  English,  and  Hon. 
Charles  T.  Soniat  read  the  treaty  in. 
Frenr-h,  -and  this  was  followed  by  the 
affixing  of  a  memorial  tablet  at  the  en 
trance  of  the  Cab'ldo  by  the  ladies  ot 
the  Colonial  Dames'  Association,  Daugh 
ters  of  Louisiana. 

This  tal;l  t  is  set.  at  the  entrance  of 
the  Supreme  Court  building,  and  the 
inscription  is  as  follows: 


.23 


THE    CABILDO. 

Erected  in  the  latter  part  of  the  eight- 
en  th  century  by  the  Spanish  Govern 
ment,  and  used  for  the  ass^mblin^ 
of  the  Cabildo,  or  Government  Coun 
cil. 

Here,  in  1803,  took  place  the  format 
transfer  o£  the  Province  of  Louisiana 
from  Spain  to  France,  and  from 
France  to  the  United  States. 

Here,  in  182^,,  resided,  as  the  guest  of 
the  State,  the  .Marquis  do  Lafayette. 
Later  the  j-rcait  hall  wr.s  used  for  tlr> 
sessions  of  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Louisiana. 

This  tablet  was  placed  here  April  30,  1J)03, 

— by— 
The   Colonial   Dames  of   America, 

— iu- 
The    State   of    Louisiana. 


f\     r\     CUT,. 
Asst.     Secretary  Louisiana  Historical  Society. 


The  most  important  role  of  the  Ho- 
ciety  in  the  annals  of  tais  State  and 
city  is  to  be  pl'.ye  1  tais  month,  wh;  n, 
during  three  si  cce;.:»lve  ('ays,  on  the  18th. 
19th  and  2Uta.  it  \vi  1  ^el;-hrat  >  w.th  most 
elaborate  re:  einonie.;  t'.ie  ee.vtrv.i'al  of 
the  trarsTe"  of  tve  T<  rritcry  of  Lou 
isiana  fron-,r^ranct*to  the  I'n.ted  States. 
The  Society  h:'.s  !x  en  painstakingly  at 
work  on  the  p  •og:ammc'  of  eelebr.itinn 
for  several  months,  and  it  has  finally  de 
cided  on  one  that  will  meet  every  re 
quirement,  and  do  honor  to  the  glorious 
occasion,  as  wel'I  as  reflect  cjrcat"  cre-l't 
upon  every  ore  who  has  had  to  do  wit'i 
its  preparation. 


J.    W.    CKUZAT, 

Treasurer    Louisiana    Historical    Society. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    LOUISIANA    HISTORI 
CAL   SOCIETY. 
ACTIVE    MEMBERS. 


J.  M.  August: n, 

M.  A.  Aldric  1), 

William  Agar, 

Mr s.  Thos.  A.  Adams, 

E.  A.  AUUrn  an, 

Page  M.  Baker, 

William  Beer, 

1*.  11.  liruune. 

Dr.  S.  II.  Backrs. 

Hon.  Jos.  A.  Brcaiix, 

Rev.  F.  C.  True  kireir-' 

Mis?  Jf!in!U"tt<    Bal'-ai 

A.  Baldwin.  Jr., 

Mrs.  P.  D.  Blake, 

)?.  Brnenn, 

J.  P.  Bal.lwln, 

K.  T.  Bear regard, 

Pierce  Butler 

Dr.  C.  Mi!o  Br.-uly. 

H.  P.  Ba'f'.win. 

Mrs.  ii.  P.  IV-l<!win. 

Mrs.  A.  Baldwin, 

J.  P.  Bl:i.r. 

E.  L.   ''.  rt'  o-  <1 

Hon.  X.  C.  Blanchard 

Frank  K.  Br-rnanl, 

Gen.  W.  J.  P.t'han, 

Whiteca-tle.  La. 
Mrs.  W.  J.  Behan. 

Wliitecastle,  La. 
J.  W.  Crr.xat, 
John  P.  Couret. 
(•Jaspnr  Cnsadis, 
Pi.-rre  Cr:-hito*. 
C  :mvd  ('.  CoM'iiR. 
Hon.  C.  F.  r;:rii<i-n  ', 

Pi,T(«-   ClM.  ltr.111, 

St.  Lor.is.  Mo. 


B.  W.  Roman. 
Brand)  M.  Kin^, 
Miss  Anna  King, 
Gutrye  C.  Kernion. 
Hon.  E.  B.  Rruttscbnitt 
Georse  Roppcl, 
Dr.  E.  S.  Lewis, 
J.  I  .  Lyons. 
L.  A.  Livauda's, 

A.  P.  Livandais. 
'.   Mrs.  J.  L.  Lyons, 
•1,  Victor  Leovy. 

0.  P.  Lo\v. 

Dr.  L.  G.  I>Beiif, 

Miss  Kate  Minor, 

i  I- in  ma.  La. 
E.  T.  Manning. 
Marshall  T.  Mi'.l.'r, 
Iti  v.  Marine.  S.J., 
.Vi-'s  Mary  E.  Morgan, 
J.  M.  McConnell,  Jr.. 
K.  T.  M-  n-irk. 
Miss  Sadie  Mclllienny. 

.Averv's  Is ":ui(l.  La. 
Mis>  Hilda  Meyer, 
Mr^.  J-.hn  M-  v'. 
J.  C.  M»tlh<-\vs, 

B.  MfCh^k.y, 
Dr.  R.  .\fatas, 

Mrs.  C.  B.  MjJKinnis. 
Flonnia.  La. 


24.. 


Prof.  J.  Ilanno  Deiler, 

Arsons  Perriliiat. 

New   Iberia,  La.            P.  F.  Viosca, 

Mrs.  M.  E    M.  Davis, 

W.  S.  I'arkei-son, 

Mrs.  J.  A.  Hinoks,            P.  H.  Waddell, 

Miss  Ainolie  I>eni  gre, 

Aih  -rt  C.  Phelps. 

W.  W.  Howe,                      Morgan  Whitney, 

Dr.  T.  S.  Dabney. 

Mr*.  X.  A.  Pueeh, 

Thos.  McC.  Hyman,         P.  M.  Westfeldr. 

Prof.  R.  V.  B.  Dixon, 

W.  W.  PL'elan, 

Miss  N.  Herron.                Rev.  F.  Widman,  S.J., 

H.  P.  Dart. 

Mrs.  F.  W.  Par  ham, 

Mrs.  W.  P.  Johnston,       Miss  Jennie  Wiide. 

"iarlaiul  Dupre. 

John  P.  I'euiberton, 

Mrs.  Joseph  Jones,           R.  M.  Walms'ey, 

-Tohn  Dymoiu!.  Jr., 

Mrs.  Ida  Ru  hard-son. 

I^eon  Joubert,                     Espy  W.  H.  Williams, 

John  Dymond. 

Hon.  Einile  Rost, 

J.  S.  Johnston.                    Miss  K.  White, 

H.  J.  De  La  Yergne, 

Henrv  Renshaw, 

Louisville.    Ky.              John  S.  Wood, 

.Mrs.  Geo.  Denegre. 

15.  Rouen 

B.  F.  Johnson.                   Mrs.  R.  M.  Walmsley, 

Walter  D.  Denegre, 

Mrs.  J.  P'.  Richardson, 

Richmond.  Va.                W.  J.  Wagnespaek, 

Mrs.  Susan  B.  Elder. 

.'ud-ie  W.  H.  Scyir.our, 

Hon.  Fred  D.  King,          Rev.  C.  L.  Wells, 

K.  H.  Farrar. 

Leonce  M.  Soniat, 

Gustavo  Kohn,                   Mrs.  John  Woud, 

Prof.  J.  K.  Ficklen, 

Doicf.vvilh-.  La. 

John  Kracke,                      S-:iii  Weis. 

Mrs.  L.  A.  Fortier. 

Lticien  Soniat. 

Miss  Anna  Kennedy,        George  W.  Young, 

II.  L.  Favrot. 

L.  C.  Simon. 

Miss  Grace  King,              J.  S.  Zaeharie. 

Prof.  Airee  Fortier. 

Dr.  E.  Souchon. 

li.   Jvellllr:-. 

JNIrs    J    K    KoviriiH'r 

11    L    Savler 

<:.  K.  Fenner. 

Chicago.    111. 

.                 II  OX  OR  All  Y    MEMBERS 

\  '.  j±t  fuvrut, 

Mrs.  B.  Sulakowski, 

Charles  (J.  Gill. 

Z-:!fli  Spearing. 

Tlon.    1'uul    Capdoviolle,    Mayor    of    the 

H.  M.  Gill. 

Charles  T.  Soniat, 

city   of  New   Orleans. 

Eflmir  Grima. 

Goimlin  R.  N.  Smith, 

Very    Kov.    Mo  tin:  r   Austin   Carroll,    Mo- 

Mrs.  L.  D    Goodrioh. 

(Joiirdin  K.  Smith, 

bi  e,   Ala. 

.7  lid  go  A.  A.  Gunby, 
Monroe,  La. 

Bernard  Titohis 
Hon.  G.  H.  Theard, 

Most    Rev.    P.    L.    Chapelle,    Archbishop 
of  Xow  Orleans. 

Rev.  Max  Heller, 
\\f.  L.  Hughes. 
13,  M.  Harrod. 

Mjss  Sarah  Henderson, 
.7.rT).  Hill 
W<,O.  Hurt. 

T.  P.  Thompson. 
M.  B.  Trrzevant. 
Houston,  Tex. 
John  S.  Tassin. 
^Fi'S.  A.  D.  Urquhart, 
Wm.  Von  Phul. 

Hon.    Murpliy    J.    Foster,    Senator    and 
ex-Governor   of    Louisiana. 
•Hon.    W.    W.    Heard,    Governor    of    the 
State   of   Louisiana. 
Hon.    Henry   Vignaml.    Secretary   of  the 

.7.  $[.  ,,.Henshaw. 

Mrs.  M.  B.  Vaiight, 

American    Embassy,    Paris,    France. 

To   one   who   is   the    type   of   the    pure 
French    Creole, 

To    the    upright,    noble,    chivalrie     gentleman,    and 
excellent    citi::en,    to 

The  Honorable  Charles  T.  Soniat, 


Scion  of  a  distinguished  family,   and  descendant 
of  the 

Chevalier  Guy  Soniat  Dufossat, 

Who  crime  to  Ne\v  Orleans  in  ITol — a  soldier,  statesman  and  planter, 

anl  was  among  the  first  to  sit  in  the 

Cabildo, 


This    book   is    dedicated,    with    deepest   sentiments   of 
esteem    and   affection,    born   of   kinship 
and    lon^:   friendship,    by 

JAMES    M.    AUGUSTIN, 


Synopsis    of   tlie    History    of   Louis 
iana. 

Hernando  De  Soto,  Father  Marquette 
and  Le  Sieur  Le  Cavellier  de  La  Salle 
were  the  hardy  pioneers  who  at  succes 
sive  epochs  hazarded  themselves  through 
trackless  wildernesses  and  gave  to  the 
world  a  route  which  has  led  to  the  dis 
covery  of  the  most  fertile  and  lovely 
valley  on  earth,  the  Valley  of  the  Mis 
sissippi.  After  having  passed  through 
the  checkered  experiences  of  a  nascent 
colony,  and  after  having  been  under  tne 
domination  of  two  European  Powers, 
the  vast  territory  of  Louisiana  became, 
by  right  of  purchase,  the  property  of  the 
United  States,  on  the  20th  of  December, 
1803. 

On  May  31,  1539,  Hernando  De  Soto, 
a  Spaniard,  set  sail  from  Havana,  and 
reached  Santo  Spiritu  Bay  (now  called 
Tampa  Bay),  in  Florida,  with  nine  ves 
sels,  carrying  530  men  and  233  horses. 
During  three  years  he  traveled  through 
parts  of  Alabama,  Mississippi  and  Ten 
nessee,  crossed  the  Mississippi  River  at 
or  near  Memphis,  went  up  to  the  White 
River  and  roamed  over  the  Arkansas  ter 
ritory  and  then  reached  the  mouth  of 
the  Red  River.  De  Soto  dreamed  of  con 
quest,  of  fabulously  rich  realms  of  abo 
rigines,  but  met  only  fatigues  and  dan 
gers  from  ambushed  foes,  and,  in  1542, 
worn  out  with  excitement  and  disappoint 
ed  in  his  ambitions,  he  died  of  a  slow  fe- 
Ver.  His  body  was  placed  in  an  oaken 
trunk,  scooped  out  by  his  followers,  and 
was  consigned  to  the  bosom  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  River. 

He  was  succeeded  by  Muscoso  de  Alva- 
rado,  who  led  the  decimated  band  over 
land  southward,  hoping  to  reach  Mexico. 
They  went  no  further  than  the  Rio 
Grande  River,  and  thence  they  returned 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Red  River  and  built 
vessels,  which  carried  them  down  tlie 
river  and  out  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 
They  reached  the  port  of  Panuco  in  a 
state  of  absolute  exhaustion,  having  lost 
more  than  two-thirds  of  their  numbers. 

One  hundred  and  thirty-four  years  after 
De  Soto  had  found  rest  in  the  Father  of 
Waters,  another  attempt  was  made  to 
penetrate  the  Mississippi  Valley  by  a 
small  band  of  Canadians,  under  the  lead 
ership  of  Father  Jacques  Marquette,  a 
Jesuit  priest,  and  Louis  Joliet,  a  mer 
chant.  They  left  Quebec  on  the  7th  of 
July,  1673,  voyaged  to  the  Mississippi 
River  and  followed  its  course  down  to 
Arkansas,  and  there,  having  been 
informed  that  the  river  discharged 
itself  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
they  went  back  to  Canada.  Seven  years 
after  the  expedition  of  Father  Marquette 
and  Joliet,  another  exploring  narty  start 
ed  from  Canada,  led  by  La  Sallo  and  his 
Lieutenant,  the  Chevalier  de  Tontv,  of 
the  Iron  Hand.  The  company  consisted 
of  forty  soldiers  -and  three  monks.  They 
found  the  Mississippi  River,  and  explored 
it  to  its  mouth  and  took  possession  of 
the  region  in  the  name  of  King  Louis 
XIV  of  France  on  the  9th  of  April,  1682, 


and  named  the  country  "Louisiana."  In 
1684  La  Salle  returned  to  France,  and 
was  given  a  fleet  of  four  vessels,  fully 
equipped  with  me::!  and  materials,  for  the 
purpose  of  establishing  a  colony.  While 
engaged  in  that  enterprise,  after  having 
established  a  settlement  near  St.  Ber 
nard  Bay,  Texas,  he  left  for  Canada,  in 
tending  to  obtain  re-enforcements  and 
supplies,  but  he  was  murdered  by  his 
own  men  at  or  near  the  present  site  of 
the  town  of  Washington,  La.  The  col 
onists  who  were  left  behind  were  mas 
sacred  by  the  Indians,  with  the  excep 
tion  of  five,  and  the  latter,  re-enforced 
by  some  of  the  men  who  had  deserted  De 
La  Salle,  found  their  way  back  to 
France,  having  been  given  passage  on 
board  of  a  Spanish  vessel. 

Another  hardy  pioneer,  Iberville,  at 
tempted  to  explore  the  new  regions.  He 
left  the  port  of  Brest,  France,  on  Oct.  28, 
1698,  with  two  ships,  and  arrived  at 
Apalachicola  Bay,  Florida,  whence  he 
set  sail  for  Mobile  Bay,  and  on  Monday, 
March  2,  1699,  gained  the  mouth  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  went  up  -as  far  as  the 
village  of  Bayagoulas;  returned  to  the 
gulf,  and  entering  the  Mississippi  Sound, 
lauded  at  Biloxi,  where  he  established  a 
colony,  and  going  back  to  France  was 
appointed  by  the  King  Governor  General 
of  Louisiana.  S;auvolle  was  made  Gover 
nor,  and  Bienyi'lle  Lieutenant  Governor. 
Sauvolle  died  in  1701,  and  Bienville  suc 
ceeded  him  as  Governor  of  the  colony. 
Iberville  made  two  voyages  to  France 
and  back  to  the  colony,  and  died  of  yel 
low  fever  in  1706.  at  San  Domingo,  where 
he  had  stopped  to  obtain  re-enforcements 
for  Louisiana.  The  seat  of  government 
was  removed  to  Mobile  in  1702.  Bienville 
was  dismissed  as  Governor  in  1708, 
through  the  intrigues  of  De  La  Salle, 
Commissary,  and  De  Muys  was  appointed 
Governor.  Soon  after  De  La  Salle  was 
also  destituted,  and  his  place  was  taken 
by  Diron  D'Artaguette. 

De  Muys  never  reached  Louisiana.  He 
died  in  Havana.  D'Artaguette  sent  to 
the  Government  a  favorable  report  of 
the  acts  of  Bienville,  who  was  reinstated 
as  Governor.  The  colony  continued  in  a 
lingering  state  until  1712,  when  Louis 
XIV  gave  to  Anthony  Crozat,  a  wealthy 
merchant,  the  exclusive  right  for  ten 
years  of  trading  in  the  Province  of  Lou 
isiana,  and  among  other  privileges  was 
a  stipulation  that  Crozat  had  the  option 
of  sending  a  vessel  once  a  year  to  Africa 
for  negro  slaves. 

Cadillac  succeeded  Bienville  as  Gover 
nor  in  1710,  but  Bienville  remained  as 
Lieutenant  Governor.  Crozat  surrendered 
his  charter  in  1717  to  the  Regent  of 
France,  during  the  minority  of  Louis 
XV,  and  the  Regent  granted  to  the 
"Western  Company,"  created  by  John 
Law,  letters  patent,  with  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  trading  in  the  colony  for 
twenty-five  years.  Law  sent  three  com 
panies  of  infantry  and  sixty-nine  col 
onists.  Bienville  was  made  Governor. 
His  first  act  was  to  select  a  place  that 
would  be  the  principal  establishment  of 
the  colony,  and  he  selected  a  spot  on  the 
banks  of  the  Mississippi  River— the  pres 
ent  site  of  the  city  of  New  Orleans. 

Two  ships  of  the  Western  Company 
brought  men  and  supplies,  and  also  con 
veyed  the  information  that  war  had 


.27.. 


broken  out  between  France  and  Spain. 
Bienville  immediately  organized  an  ex 
pedition  against  tne  Spanish  posts  at 
Pensaco'la,  Fla.,  and  conquered.  During 
the  year  1720  the  first  cargo  of  slaves 
from  Africa  was  received.  Colonists  be 
gan  to  arrive  in  numbers.  One  thousand 
came  during  1720  and  1721. 

In  March,"  1721.  200  Germans  were  sent 
to  the  Arkansas  region  by  the  Western 
Company.  Four  hundred  negro  slaves 
were  also  imported  to  work  on  the  plan 
tations.  The  slaves  were  sold  for  about 
660  "livres''  per  head,  on  credit.  Tobacco 
could  be  received  in  payment  at  25  cents 
per  hundred  pounds,  and  rice  at  12  cents, 
when  delivered  at  New  Orleans,  Mobile 
or  Biloxi. 

Louisiana  was  divided  into  nine  terri 
torial  districts— New  Orleans,  Biloxi,  Mo 
bile,  Alibamos,  Natchez,  Yazpo,  Natchi- 
toches,  Arkansas  and  Illinois,  and  to 
each  district  there  was  to  be  a  governor 
or  commander.  From  October,  1717,  to 
May,  1721,  there  were  transported  by 
the  Company  7.020  individuals,  and  of 
that  number  fully  2,000  returned  to 
France,  or  died  of  hardships,  so  that 
the  remaining  population  did  not  exceed 
5,420  souls.  In  March,  1722,  the  Company 
issued  an  edict  forbidding  the  sale  of 
negroes  for  transportation  out  of  the 
colony,  or  to  any  subjects  of  a  foreign 
nation. 

A  serious  revolt  of  the  Natchez  tribe 
about  this  time  came  near  decimating  the 
colonv,  but  owing  to  a  miscalculation  by 
the  Indians  of  the  date  fixed  for  the 
general  massacre  of  the  whites,  only  the 
colonists  of  Natchez  were  surprised  and 
killed.  In  June,  1722,  250  Germans, 
commanded  by  the  Chevalier  D'Arens- 
bourg,  a  Swedish  officer,  arrived.  On 
board  of  his  ship  also  came  Marigny  de 
Mandeville  who,  in  1700,  had  been  active 
in  the  opposition  to  Bienville. 

The  Western  Company  having  gone  into 
ignominous  bankruptcy,  the  Duke  of  Or 
leans  Regent  of  France,  intrusted  the 
affairs  of  the  colony  to  three  Commis 
sioners,  Ferrand,  Faget  and  Machinot, 
who  approved  of  a  plan  submitted  by 
Bienville:  First,  to  transfer  the  seat  of 
government  to  New  Orleans,  and.  second, 
to  make  at  the  Arkansas  a  settlement  to 
connect  the  Illinois  with  the  southern 
part  of  the  colony.  In  1723  the  seat  of 
government  was  transferred  to  New  Or 
leans  from  Fort  Louis.  Mobile.  One  year 
later  Bienville  was  destituted  _as  Gov 
ernor,  and  Perier  succeedel  him.  The 
Ursuline  Nuns  ami  the  Jesuits  arrived 
from  France  in  1727.  The  Western  Com 
pany  having  failed  and  its  charter  hav 
ing  been  forfeited,  commerce  became 
free  to  all  French  subjects. 

Bienville  was  reappointed  Governor  in 
1733,  and  he  resigned  in  March,  1742.  J'h» 
Vaudreuil  succeeded  him,  and  remained 
Governor  until  1753,  when  Kerlerec  took 
his  place. 

Nov  3  1702,  Louis  XV  donated  to  his 
cousin,  Charles  III  of  Spain,  the  Prov 
ince  of  Louisiana.  This  donation  was 
kept  secret,  and  the  French  King  con- 
tinned  to  71  ct  as  sovereign  of  the  colonv 
until  March,  17GB.  Kerlerec  was  recalled 
to  France,  and  D'Abadie  succeeded  him. 
D'Abadie  died  in  1764,  and  Aubry  became 
Governor. 

Then  came  the  Spnnish  occupancy  by 
virtue  of  the  secret  donation  made  four 
years  previously. 


, 

aders  in  the  uprising:   Lafreniere,   Noy- 
,    Caresse,    Villere,    Marquis    and   Mil 


Don  Antonio  de  Ulloa  arrived  to  take 
possession  in  the  name  of  the  King  of 
Spain.  The  colonists  protested  against 
the  transfer,  and  ordered  him  to  leave 
the  country.  The  Court  of  Spain  then 
sent  Count  O'Reilly  with  a  powerful  fleet 
and  many  soldiers  to  take  forcible  nos- 
session,  but  no  resistance  was  made.  Nev 
ertheless,  O'Reilly  executed  six  of  the 
leaders  in  the  u 
an, 
let. 

O'Reilly  organized  a  government,  es 
tablished  the  tribunal  known  as  the  Ca- 
bildo,  and  the  following  year  left  for 
Spain,  after  having  transferred  the 
reins  of  government  to  Unzaga.  who  re 
signed  in  1776.  July  30,  1778.  the  Ursu 
line  Nuns  sold  to  Guido  du  Fossat  a 
tract  of  land  about  three  leagues  below- 
New  Orleans. 

Bernardo  de  Galvez  succeeded  Unzaga 
as  Governor  of  Louisiana,  and  acted  as 
such  from  1777  to  1783.  Miro  was  ap 
pointed  Governor,  civil  and  military,  of 
Louisiana  and  Wrest  Florida,  and  was 
succeeded  in  1792  by  the  Baron  de  Caron- 
delet. 

The  Cathedral  was  founded  by  Don 
Andres  Almonaster  y  Roxas  in  1792  and 
finished  in  1796.  About  the  same  time 
the  Carondelet  Canal  was  dug.  From 
1797  to  1799  Gayoso  de  Lemos  was 
Governor  of  Louisiana.  Daniel  Clark  was 
appointed  Consul  of  the  United  States  at 
New  Orleans  during  the  administration 
of  Casa-Calvo,  Military  Governor,  who 
succeeded  de  Lemos. 

On  Oct.  1,  1800.  a  treaty  was  conclud 
ed,  at  San  Ildefonso,  between  France 
and  Spain,  by  which  the  King  of  Spain 
retroceded  to  the  French  Republic  the 
Province  of  Louisiana,  and  on  March  21, 
1801.  the  cession  was  effected. 

As  France  was  then  at  war  with  Eng 
land,  the  treaty  was  kept  secret,  for  the 
leason  that  England,  having  a  powerful 
fleet  might  have  attempted  the  conquest 
of  Louisiana.  On  June  15,  1801.  Juan 
Manuel  de  Salccdo  was  appointed  Gov 
ernor  of  Louisiana  and  he  continued  in 
office  until  the  cession  by  France  to  the 
United  States  in  1S03.  OT>  March  29, 
1801,  Rufus  King.  United  States  Minister 
at  London,  apprised  his  Government  of 
the  retrocession  by  Spain  to  France. 
Alarmed  at  the  consoquencrs  of  that 
cession  the  United  States  Government 
sent  Robert  R.  Livingston  as  envoy  to 
France,  to  ascertain  the  condition  of  af 
fairs:  and  in  the  meantime,  prelimin 
aries  of  neace  were  being  discr.ssed  be 
tween  France  and  England,  and  peace 
was  effected  in  March,  1802.  In  Novem 
ber  1802.  Morales,  Inteudant  of  Xouis- 
iana,  closed  the  port  of  ..ew  Orleans  to. 
the  \mericans.  as  a  place  of  deposit. 
But,  the  King  of  Spain  disapproving  of 
the  act  of  Morales,  caused  it  to  be 
promptly  rescinded.  On  Jan  10.  1803, 
Thomas  Jefferson  President  of  the 
United  States,  anointed  James  Monroe 
as  envoy  extraordinary  to  France  to 
negotiate  jointly  with  Livingston,  for  the 
cession  of  Now  Orleans  and  Florida  to 
the  United  States.  In  the  meantime, 
and  si-u-e  his  appointment,  Livingston 
had  many  interviews  with  the  French 
authorities  in  order  to  ascertain  whether 
or  not  Spain  had  really  ceded  Louisiana 
to  France,  but  he  could  obtain  no  satis 
faction,  and  it  was  only  on  I-  eb.  2<,  isOJ, 


that  he  made  a  proposition  to  Bonaparte 
and  urged  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to 
the  United  Starts.  Livingston  told  Tal 
leyrand  that  the  United  States  woul  give 
twenty  million  francs  for  Louisiana.  Bon 
aparte  was  in  favor  of  ceding  the  whole 
of  the  Province  for  fifty  million  francs. 
Barhe  Marbois  and  Decris,  the  French 
Ministers,  were  not  agreed  on  this  mat 
ter,  Marbois  being  in  favor  of  the  sale 
and  Decris  being  against.  Marbois  asked 
one  hundred  million  francs,  the  French 
Government  to  pay  the  claims  of  Ameri 
can  citi/cns  against  Frav.ce.  amounting 
to  twenty-five  "million  franc-s.  On  April 
10.  ISO"?.  Bonaparte  informed  his  Minis 
ters,  Marbois  and  Decris,  that  he  wanted 
to  cede  Louisiana  to  the  United  States, 
in  order  to  prevent  England  from  seizing 
Louisiana,  as  war  "with  England  was 
inevitable.  It  then  aneared,  as  negotia 
tions  were  going  on,  that  Bonaparte  was 
as  anxious  to  s'ell  as  the  United  States 
were  anxious  to  buy. 

Finally  the  treaty  of  cession  was  signe/l 
on  April  30,  1803.  bv  which  Louisiana 
was  sold  to  the  United  States  with  all. 
rights  which  had  b^en  acquired  by 
France  from  Spain,  the  United  States 
to  pay  eighty  million  francs;  of  which 
twenty  milloins  were  to  be  affected  to 
the  payment  of  Frame's  debts  to  citi 
zens  of  the  United  States. 

On  March  20,  1S03,  Laussat,  the  Col- 
•onial  Prefect,  arrived  from  France;  and 
.soon  after  there  came  the  Spanish  Com 
missioners.  Casa,  Calvo  and  Salcedo,  to 
deliver  the  Province  of  Louisiana  to 
France.  May  13,  1803.  Casa-Calvo  and 
'Salcedo  issued  a  proclamation  announcing 
the  intention  of  the  King  of  Spain  to 
transfer  the  Province  of  Louisiana  to 
France.  June  0.  1803,  Bonaparte  ap- 
poi-»ted  Laussat  Commissioner  to  receive 
possession  of  the  Province,  from  Spain, 
and  then  to  deliver  the  Province  over 
to  the  Commissioners  appointed  by  the 
United  States. 

Sept.  4,  1803,  Spain  protested  against 
the  sale  of  Louisiana  to  the  United 
States,  alleging  that  France  had  pledged 
not  to  alienate  that  province.  In  Octo 
ber  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
met,  and  the  President,  in  his  message, 
mentioned  the  purchase  of  Louisiana, 
which  was  ratified  in  the  Senate  by  a 
vote  of  20  to  7;  and  on  the  :^,,a  of  the 
same  month  a  bill  was  passed  by  the 
Senate,  by  a  vote  of  20  to  6.  enabling 
the  President  to  proceed  in  the  taking 
of  possession  of  the  ceded  territories", 
tuid,  with  the  amendments  proposed  bv 
the  House,  the  bill  was  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  83  to  7. 

Wednesday,  Nov.  30.  1803.  France  re 
reived  f'-om  Snain  the  territory  of  Lou 
isiana  from  Casa-Calvo  and  Salcedo. 
who  met  Laussat.  the  French  Commis 
sioner,  at  the  City  Hall,  in  New  Or 
leans.  Laussat  exhibited  to  the  Span 
ish  Commissioners  an  order  from  the 
King  of  Spain  for  the  delivery  of  the 
province,  and  his  authority  from  Bona 
parte  to  receive  it.  Formal  delivery 
and  acceptance  were  then  made  by 
saluting  the  Spanish  flag  as  it  cam" 
down,  and  the  French  "flag  as  it  went 
up.  Laussat  then  informed  the  people 
that  he  had  received  Louisiana  for  a 
short  time  only,  as  he  had  been  instruct 
ed  to  turn  over  the  colonv  to  the  United 
States. 


On  the  17th  of  December,  1803,  Messrs. 
Wilkinson  and  Claiborne,  Commissioners 
of  the  United  Staces,  came  with  two 
companies  and  halted  about  two  miles 
from  the  city  of  New  Orleans.  They 
sent  word  to  Laussat,  asking  if  he  was 
ready  to  receive  them,  and  he  replied 
that  he  was.  On  the  20th  of  December 
the  United  States  troops  entered  the 
city  and  marched  to  the  City  Hall,  where 
Laussat  was  awaiting  the  United  ~..ates 
Commissioners.  They  exhibited  their 
powers  to  Laussat,  who  thereupon  de 
livered  over  to  them  the  keys  of  the 
city.  The  French  flag  was  lowered,  and 
the  United  States  flag  was  hoisted.  Thus 
ended  the  French  dominion  twenty  days 
after  it  had  begun,  and  the  Spanish 
regime  after  thirty-four  years  of  ex 
istence. 

On  the  same  day,  Claiborne  issued  a 
proclamation  enjoining  all  the  inhabi 
tants  to  be  faithful  to  the  new  Govern 
ment. 

By  act  of  Congress,  in  March.  1804, 
the  Orleans  Territory  was  created,  and 
Claiborne  was  appointed  Governor  for 
three  years,  with  power  to  appoint  most 
of  the  civil  and  military  officers.  The 
legislative  power  n-as  vested  in  the 
Governor  and  a  body  of  thirteen  free 
holders.  The  act  ^created  a  superior 
court  of  three  judges,  and  the  Legisla 
ture  was  authorized  to  establish  inferioi 
courts.  There,  was,  in  addition,  a  United 
States  court,  with  circuit  court  powers. 
This  Government  for  the  Territory  of 
Orleans  began  its  functions  on  the  1st 
of  October,  1804,  and  in  that  month  the 
first  Legislature  met  and  passed  the 
first  act  for  the  incorporation  of  the 
city,  of  New  Orleans  and  the  appoint 
ment  of  a  board  of  fourteen  aldermen. 
This  charter  remained  in  force  until 
1836,  when  the  city  was  divided  into 
municipalities. 

In  1805,  the  President,  by  authority 
of  Congress,  established  a  form  of  gov 
ernment  by  appointing  a  governor,  a 
secretary  and  superior  judges:  the  Legis 
lative  Council,  to  be  composed  of  five 
members,  to  be  chosen  by  the  President, 
and  the  House  of  Representatives,  to  be 
composed  of  twenty-five  members,  elect 
ed  by  the  people. 

The  first  Legislature  assembled  Jan. 
2(>,  180<1,  and  appointed  Brown  and  Lis- 
let  to  prepare  a  code  of  laws,  which 
they  completed  in  1808.  In  February, 
1811,  Congress  passed  an  act  authorizing 
the  people  of  the  territory  to  form  a 
government  preparatory  to  its  admis 
sion  into  the  Union  as  one  of  the  States. 
On  the  first  Monday  in  November,  1811, 
the  first  Convention  to  frame  a  eonsti- 
tion  assembled  in  New  Orleans  and 
chose  the  Kentucky  Constitution  as  a 
model. 

April  8.  1812,  Louisiana  was  admitted 
into  the  Union. 

June  12.  1812.  President  Madison  issued 
his  proclamation  declaring  war  against 
Great  Britain.  In  June,  1812,  the  first 
Legislature  under  the  new  Constitution 
met,  and  the  first  State  Supreme  Court 
was  established,  with  Hallz  Matthews 
and  Derbigny  as  justices. 

On  Jan.  8,  181.1.  the  battle  of  New 
Orleans  was  fought,  with  such  disas 
trous  results  for  the  English  invaders. 


New     Orleans— From     its     Birth     in 
1718    to    1SO3. 


DC  Bienville  removed  the  seat  of 
government  iTom  Biloxi  to  Mobile,  and 
thence  to  a  spot  on  the  banks  of  the 
Mississippi  River,  the  present  site  of 
the  queenly  city  of  New  Orleans;  now  the 
metropolis  of  the  South,  and  in  com 
mercial  and  inJrustrial  worth  the  rival 
of  the  most  opulent  cities  of  the  .North 
aud  East.  Biemille  and  his  engineers, 
De  La  Tour  and  Pauget,  surveyed  the 
ground,  and  laid  out  the  city  on  a  plan 
consisting  of  66  squares  of  300  feet  each, 
intersected  by  twelve  horizontal  streets 
parallel  with  the  river,  and  seven 
streets  across  them  toward  the  woods. 
The  buildings  were:  The  Church  of  St. 
Louis,  (now  the  Cathedral),  facing  the 
Place  d'Armes  (Jackson  Square);  the 
Capuchins'  house;  the  prison  and  guard 
house;  the  soldiers'  barracks  on  each 
side  of  the  Place  d'Armes;  the  iu- 
tendant's  or  Comptroller's  residence;  the 
powder  magazine;  Government  building; 
the  Ursulines'  Convent,  and  the  residence 
of  the  Jesuits.  A  levee  was  built  to  pro 
tect  the  city  from  overflow.  In  1722  New 
Orleans  consisted  of  one  hundred  cabins, 
a  large  woe-den  warehouse,  two  or  three 
unpretentious  dwellings,  and  a  warehouse 
annex  used  as  a  church.  In  1724  a  grant 
of  ten  ^:-^ents  front  on  the  Mississippi 
River  was  given  to  Father  Petit,  Superior 
of  the  Jesuits,  and  he  selected  a  tract 
of  land  in  that  part  of  the  city  kno\vu 
later  as^  the  Faubourg  Ste.  Marie,  in 
1727  the*  Jesuits  brought  to  New  Orleans 
some  Ursuline  Nuns,  whose  mission  was 
to  take  charge  of  the  hospital,  and  of 
the  education  of  young  girls.  The  Nuns 
first  lodged  at  the  corner  of  Chartres 
and  Bienville  Streets,  and  later  on  they 
built  a  convent  on  Chartres  Street  and 
Ursuline  olreet,  which  they  occupied 
until  1824,  when  they  removed  to  the 
present  location  on  North  Peters  Street, 
in  the  Ihiru  District. 

The  infant  colony  had  to  struggle  with 
the  usual  vicissitudes  of  such  tentative 
settlements:  Wars  with  the  aborigines, 
famin'e,  floods,  tempests,  internal  dis 
sensions,  and  the  like,  until  1762,  wThen 
France  transferred  the  province  of  Louisi 
ana  to  Spain,  and  the  celebrated  revolt 
took  place  resulting  in  forcible  taking 
of  possession  in  the  name  of  the  King 
of  Spain  by  Count  O'Reilly,  who  wreaked 
summary  vengeance  upo:».  six  of  the 
leaders  in  the  revolt. 

It  might  be  interesting  to  know  the 
names  of  the  property  holders  in  Ne  v 
Orleans  In  1728,  from  which  are  selected 
names  still  represented  in  this  city: 
Bienville.  Dubreuil,  Bounaud,  La  Fren- 
iere,  Delery,  Mandeville,  Dreux,  Beau- 
lien.  Ohauvin,  Duval,  Dupuy,  St.  Martin. 
Villere,  Pellerin.  Trudeau,  For  tier,  Ds 
Blanc,  De  Morand,  Brule,  Manacle,  St. 


Hillaire,  Sarrazin,  Vitre,  Lecourt,  Pou- 
part,  Roger,  Deslattes,  Michel,  Ozanne, 
Rivard,  Trepagnier,  Carriere,  De  Lassus, 
Caron,  Pascal,  Le  Normand,  Langlois, 
St.  Jean,  Malot,  Robert,  Dalcourt,  C<\r- 
pantras,  Laurent,  De  La  Bretonne, 
Grandjean,  Lapierre,  Moreau,  De  Livau- 
dais,  Schmidt,  Bonpart,  St.  Alexandrc* 
Lavigue,  Danvillier,  Larose,  Prevost, 
Menard,  Lafontaine,  Gautier,  Roche,  Ber 
nard,  Forestier,  Saucier,  Dizier.  Martin, 
Lemaire,  Dupart,  Lauve,  Mason,  Bello- 
vue,  Lacoste,  Raymond,  Petit.  Paul,, 
Dauphin,  Mesmer,  Grace,  Lat'orge,  Sau- 
nier,  Leduc,  Gautier  de  Montreuil,  Rau- 
don,  Bosset,  Dupre,  Bonnet,  Bailly,  Du- 
buisson,  Merrain,  Lantier,  Fontaine, 
Foucher  Barre,  Vincent,  St.  Laurent* 
Conitois. 

In  1732  the  population  of  New  Orleans 
was  about  tiTree  thousand.  The  prom 
inent  residents  then,  were:  Villere,  For- 
tier,  Delevy,  De  la  Ronde,  Dupre,  Du- 
tuisson,  Dalby,  St.  Martin,  Dupuy,  Ros- 
sard,  Duval,  De  Livaudais,  Lavigne, 
Beaulieu,  Chauvin,  Danseville,  Perigauit, 
Gautier  de  Montreuil,  Dreux,  Saucier, 
Lauve,  Mandeville,  De  Marigny.  Tisscr- 
and,  Bonneau  de  Blanc,  Dasfeld,  Pro- 
venche,  Gauvrit,  Bouligny,  Dauterive, 
Bienvenu,  D'Artaguette,  Luzon,  Laguet, 
Fleurian,  D'Orgenois,  Boisblaur,  Brusle, 
Lafreniere,  Carriere,  Caron  and  Pascal. 

According  to  the  census  taken  in  17Gt>, 
New  Orleans'  had  1,803  men  ht  to  bear 
arms,  1,044  marriageable  women.  1,30 
boys,  and  1,244  girls.  A  total  of  5,556. 
The  blacks  were  nearly  as  numerous. 

After  having  taken  possession  in  the 
name  of  the  King  of  Spain,  a  Council 
\vas  established  by  O'Reilly,  and  its  first 
session  was  held  in  December,  1760,  and 
its  members,  Reggio,  Francisco,  De 
Vezin,  Fleurian,  Beaud,  Bienvenu  ana 
Ducros,  sat  under  the-  Presidency  or 
O'Reilly.  In  the  summer  of  the  year  fol 
lowing  O'Reilly  left  for  Spain  and  was 
succeeded  by  Unzaga.  Among  the  mem 
bers  of  the  Cabildo  in  subsequent  years, 
who  were  appointed  Alacaldes  or  Judges, 
were:  1771,  Chabert  and  Forstali;  1772, 
Amelot  and  Chevalier  de  Villiers;  1773. 
Duplessis  and  Doriocourt ;  1774,  Forstali 
and  Chabert;  1775,  Cheveiier  Guy  Soniat, 
Dufossat  and  Duplessis;  1776,  D'Ernon- 
ville  and  Livaudais;  1777,  Forstali  and 
Chevalier  de  Villiers;  1778,  Navarre  and 
Chevalier  Guy  Soniat  Dufossat;  17SO, 
Piernas  and  Duverger:  1783,  Lebrcton 
and  Morales;  1785,  Forstali  and  Kernion; 
178(5,  Orne  and  Chevalier  Guy  Soniat  Du 
fossat;  1787,  Chabert  and  Reggio;  1VSS, 
Foucher  and  Argotte;  1790,  Ortega  and 
Almonaster;  1701,  Mandeville  de  Marigny 
and  De  la  Pons;  1704,  Serano  and  Daunoy; 
1705,  Loris  and  Pontalba;  1706,  Perot  and 
De  la  Chaise;  1708,  Serano  and  Argotte; 
1800,  Peret  and  Poeyfarre;  1802,  Forstali 
and  Cassergues;  1803,  Forstali  and  La- 
nusse. 


..30.. 


Iu  1802  the  first  American  lodge  of 
Masons  was  organized  with  Dominic  F. 
Burthe  as  Grand  Master,  and  Caspar  De 
Buys  as  Deputy  Grand  Master.  The 
Chapter  was  organized  in  1815,  and 
Moreau  Lislet  was  Grand  Commander. 
In  1820  the  city  of  New  Orleans  was 
only  about  four  thousand  feet  long,  and 
2,100  feet  in  depth.  In  178S  there  were 
1,200  houses,  of  which  900  were  destroyed 
by  fire;  anJ  in  1794  another  fire  consumed 
about  one  thousand  houses.  In  1801 
there  were  1,800  houses,  and  8,000  in 
habitants.  In  1822  there  were  1,430  brick 
buildings,  and  4,400  wooden  buildings, 
and  1,300  wooden  warehouses,  workshops 
and  stores. 

The  first  public  city  hall  was  built  in 
1793,  fronting  on  Chartres  Street,  and 
on  the  South  side  of  St.  Peter  Street, 
where  were  located  the  city  offices,  city 
guardhouse,  and  State  prison.  The  Su 
preme,  Parish  and  District  Courts  held 
their  session  in  the  Government  houses 
built  in  1761.  and  in  which  were  held 
sessions  of  the  State  Legislature.  The 
Treasurer's  office  and  the  Orleans 
Library  of  7,200  volumes  were  also  in 
the  building.  The  Custom-house,  a  plain 
brick  building,  with  a  coating  of  white 
plaster,  fronted  on  Levee  Street,  near 
Canal,  and  in  it  were  located  the  United 
States  District  Court,  the  United  States 
District  Attorney's  Office,  the  United 
States  Land  Office,  and  the  United  States 
Marshal's  office.  The  Charity  Hospital 
was  built  in  1815,  on  Canal  Street,  near 
Baroune,  and  the  New  Orleans  College  in 
1812_;  the  Orleans  Theatre,  St.  Louis 
Hotel  and  Orleans  Ballroom,  in  1813. 
They  were  destroyed  by  tire  in  1815,  and 
rebuilt  in  1816.  French  and  English 
companies  appeared  on  the  stage  alter 
nately,  and  in  1829  the  elder  Booth  ap 
peared  in  French  as  well  as  in  English 
characters.  The  St.  Philip  Theatre  was 
built  in  1810.  Early  in  the  twenties 
James  H.  Caldwell  built,  on  Camp  Street, 
the  American  Theatre,  subsequently 
known  as  Armory  Hall,  and  still  later 
as  Rice,  Born  &  Go's  hardware  store.  A 
lew  dwellings  stood  on  Canal  and  Maga 
zine  Streets,  and  the  Polar  Star  Lodge 
was  at  the  corner  of  Camp  and  Gravier. 
In  1835  Mr.  Caldwell  leased  his  theatrc- 
to  Russell  and  Rowe,  and  built  the  St. 
Charles  Theatre.  Christ  Episcopal  Church 
was  erected  at  the  corner  of  Canal  and 
Bourbon  Streets,  in  1816. 

New  Orleans  increased  in  size  and  in 
population  in  spite  of  many  drawbacks. 
In  1825  the  Marquis  de  Lafayette  visited 
this  city,  and  was  received  with  great 
enthusiasm,  and  was  given  every  atten 
tion  by  the  civic  authorities,  and  by  the 
citizens. 

In  1S28  General  Jackson,  the  hero  of 
New  Orleans,  visited  Tne  city.  He  was 
piven  a  brilliant  reception  in  the  "Place 
d'Armes"  (Jackson  Square).  From  1820 
to  1840  the  commerce  of  New  Orleans 


had  greatly  expanded.  It  had  a  large 
trade  with  Mexico,  through  foreign  resi 
dent  merchants,  of  imported  English, 
fabrics,  and  wares  expressly  made  for 
transportation.  Cotton,  rice,  sugar,  and 
other  valuable  products  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley  began  to  seek  New  Orleans,  and., 
an  impetus  was  given  to  the  building 
of  warehouses,  cotton  compresses,  and 
other  buildings  so  as  to  meet  the  in 
crease  iu  commerce.  Chartres  Street  was 
then  the  center  of  commercial  activity 
for  dry  goods,  shoes,  clothing,  notions, 
jewelery,  at  wholesale  and  retail.  Tne 
principal  stores  were  on  Chartres  Street 
from  CanaT  to  St.  Louis.  Hart,  Labatt 
&  Co.  were  the  first  merchants  to  es 
tablish  a  store  above  Canal  Street.  They 
located  on  Magazine  Street,  between 
Canal  and  Common  Streets.  Canal 
Street  at  that  time  "had  many  handsome 
private  residences,  and  Camp  Street  be 
gan  to  rival  Chartres  Street  as  a  business 
center.  Stores  and  residences  were 
erected  near  Caldwell's  American  Thea 
tre.  The  leading  merchants  then  were: 
Samuel  J.  Peters,  John  Minturu,  Joshua 
Baldwin,  Crossniau,  E.  A.  1'orke,  Tim 
Toby,  James  Robb,  Peter  Conrey,  Cald 
well,  the  Frerets,  J.  W.  Breedlove, 
Gordon,  Henry  'Lockett,  and  others.  In 
1850  the  present  City  Hall,  opposite  La 
fayette  Square,  was  built. 

Buildings     and     Sites     of    the     Last 
Century. 

The  first  building  worthy  of  close  at 
tention  is  the  venerable  Cabildo,  for  iU 
history  is  intimately  interwoven  with 
the  life  of  New  Orleans.  It  stands  at 
the  corner  of  Chartres  and  St.  Peter 
Streets,  and  is  now  used  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  the  Police  Court  and  the  Police 
Station  of  the  Third  Precinct.  Like  all 
edifices  erected  by  Spaniards,  it  is  con 
structed  in  a  very  heavy  and  solid  mau- 
ner.  It  was  originally  the  meeting  place 
of  the  Cabildo,  or  Municipal  Chapter,  and 
the  name  of  the  tribunal  has  been  given 
to  the  building  Itself.  Within  its  walls 
all  but  one  of  the  transfers  of  the 
country  from  one  sovereign  to  another 
have  been  i  effected.  Here  was  made  the 
transfer  of  the  colony  to  the  United 
States  on  the  20th  of  December,  1803. 

That  ceremony  was  preceded,  on  the 
30th  of  November,  by  the  transfer  or 
retrocession  of  Louisiana  to  France  by 
the  representatives  of  the  'King  of 
Soaln. 

Miss  Grace  King,  the  talented  New 
Orleanian,  author  and  historian,  thus  de 
scribes  the  events  of  the  20th  of  Decem 
ber,  1803,  in  her  interesting  book,  "New 
Orleans,  the  Place  and  the  People:" 

"On  the  same  day  the  Spanish  Munici 
pal  Government  was  abolished,  a  Frencb 
one  was  substituted.  In  the  city  a  Mayor 
was  appointed,  Mr.  Etienne  de  Bore,  aud 
a  Municipal  Council  of  ten,  composed 


of  the  most  distinguished  among  tlis 
colonists,  and  all  prominent  in  their 
devotion  to  France.  Among  them  was 
Villere,  the  sou  of  the  companion  of  La- 
freniere.  The  Spauish  commander  or 
the  militia  was  replaced  by  a  Creole. 

"Seventeen  days  later,  the  American 
Commissioners,  with  their  escorts  or 
troops,  arrived,  and  camped  two  miles 
outside  the  city  walls.  Three  days  after 
wards,  on  Dec.  20,  was  consummated 
what  the  Louisianians  must  most  de 
voutly  have  hoped  would  be  their  last 
change  of  government..  It  was  the  third 
in  the  memory  of  a  living  generation. 
The  ceremony  could  not  be  anything  but 
funereal  to  the  natives. 

"At  sunrise  the  gay  folds  of  the  tricolor 
spread  in  the  breeze  from  the  top  of  the 
flagstaff.  It  was  noted  as  a  good  omen, 
that,  instead  of  the  rain  and  coulds  that 
had  attended  both  Spanish  ceremonies, 
the  day  dawned  clear  and  bright.  A 
faultless  sky  shone  overhead.  At  y 
o'clock  the  militia  mustered  and  marched 
into  the  'Place  d'Armes,'  and  the  crowd 
began  to  mass  in  the  streets.  A  cannon 
shot  signaled  that  the  American  troops 
had  left  their  camps,  ana  were  marching 
toward  the  city.  A  salute  of  twenty  guns 
from  Fort  St.  Charles  announced  that 
they  were  passing  through  the  Tchoupi- 
toulas  gate,  and  being  admitted  Into 
the  streets  of  the  city.  At  noon  the 
column  made  its  appearance  in  the 
'Place  d'Armes.'  General  Wilkinson 
and  Governor  Claiborne,  the  American 
Commissioners,  on  horseback,  at  the 
head,  followed  by  a  detachment  oi' 
dragoons,  in  red  uniform;  four  pieces  or 
artillery,  cannoneers,  two  companies  ol 
infantry,  and  one  of  carbineers.  The 
troops  formed  in  the  square  opposite  the 
French  local  soldiery.  The  Commission 
ers,  dismounting,  proceeded  to  the  Hotel 
de  Ville,  as  the  Cabildo  was  now  called, 
where  they  were  received  by  the  olh'cers 
of  the  municipality,  the  French  Commis 
sioner,  an,d  his  suite,  and  a  large  and 
notable  assembly  of  citizens.  Laussat, 
leading  the  way  to  the  great  hall,  took 
his  place  on  the  elevated  chair  of  honor, 
Governor  Claiborne  and  General  Wilkin 
son  seating  themselves  on  his  right  and 
left.  The  legal  formalities  of  three  weeks 
before  were  repeated.  Laussat  delivered 
the  keys  of  the  city  to  Claiborne,  changed 
places  with  him,  and  publicly  absolved 
from  their  oath  of  allegiance  to  France, 
all  colonists  who  wished  to  pass  under 
the  new  domination.  Th'e-  Commissioners 
then  arose  and  walked  upon  the  balcony. 
Wh/it  met  their  eyes  was  not  the  small, 
pretty,  fenced-in  garden  of  to-day  shut 
in  by  the  sordid  ugliness  of  railroad 
buildings  in  front,  and  hedged  on  each 
side  by  serried  walls  of  brick.  Then, 
the  waters  of  the  Mississippi  rolled  in 
nntramolled  view  of  the  cross  of  the 
Cathedral,  rippling  its  currents  around 
the  long  line  of  decorated  ships  lying 


at  the  broad,  tree-shaded  levee.  The 
open  space,  then  a  parade  ground  for  an 
army,  double  its  present  size,  to  the 
right  and  to  the  left  holding  off  the  ad 
vance  of  streets  and  houses  by  noble 
avenues  of  trees.  In  the  center  rose 
the  great  flagstaff,  bearing  the  flimsiest 
of  fabrics,  and  strongest  of  symbols  th<;t 
has  ever  held  the  hearts  of  mortals  to 
a  coign  of  earth.  About  the  staff  were 
grouped  the  military,  a  vivid  spot  or 
steel  and  color,  and  around  them,  and  as 
far  as  eye  could  see,  human  faces, 
eagerly  looking  up,  in  the  bright  Decem 
ber  sun,  a  motley  of  color,  and  expres 
sion,  white,  black,  yellow,  red,  French 
man,  Spaniard,  African,  mulatto,  Indian, 
and,  most  vital  of  all,  by  his  height  and 
boisterous  triumph  on  the  occasion,  the 
tall,  lank  Westerner  in  coon-skin  cap 
and  leathern  hunting  shirt. 

"At  the  appearance  of  the  Commission 
ers,  the  tricolor  began  to  flutter  gently 
down,  and  the  great  new  flag,  the  Stars 
and  Stripes,  to  mount  the  staff.  When 
they  came  together,  midway,  they  paused 
a  moment.  A  cannon  shot  fired,  and 
every  gun  in  the  city,  from  fort,  battery 
and  ship,  answered  in  salute;  the  bauds 
played,  the  .Americans  shouted.  The  rest 
of  the  crowd  looked  on,  silent.  When  the 
reverberation  had  died  away,  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  were  waving  from  the  top 
of  the  staff.  After  an  inaugural  address, 
by  the  American  Governor,  to  the  'Louist- 
anians,  my  fellow  citizens,'  there  was  a 
review  of  the  troops,  and  the  American 
companies  filed  out  of  one  side  of  tQc 
square,  the  French  out  of  the  other. 

"When  twenty-one  days  before,  the 
French  flag  was  flung  to  the  breeze,  tor 
its  last  brief  reign  in  Louisiana,  a  band 
of  fifty  old  soldiers  formed  themselves 
into  a  guard  of  honor,  which  was  to  act 
as  a  kind  of  death- watch  to  their  national 
colors.  They  stood  now  at  the  foot  of 
the  staff,  and  received  in  their  arms  the 
tricolor  as  it  descended,  and  while  the 
Americans  were  rending  the  air  with 
their  shouts,  they  marched  silently 
away,  their  sergeant  bearing  it  at  their 
head.  All  uncovered  before  it,  the 
American  troops,  as  they  passed,  pre 
sented  arms  to  it.  It  was  carried  to  tne 
Government  house,  and  left  in  the  hands 
of  Laussat  "  . 

FIRST   MAYOR    AND    CITY    COUNCIL. 

On  the  same  day  that  he  took  pos 
session  of  the  province  of  Louisiana.  In 
the  "name  of  the  King  of  France,  from 
the  Spanish  Commissioners,  Salcedo  aud 
Casa  Calvo.  Nov.  30,  1803,  M.  Laussat, 
the  Colonial  Prefect,  issued  severa/ 
decrees  in  relation  to  the  organization 
of  the  province.  Mr.  Garland  was  ap 
pointed,  provisionally,  Administrator  Gen 
eral  and  Director  of  the  Custom-house, 
and  N«availles,  Treasurer.  For  the  Span 
ish  Cabildo  were  substituted  a  mayor, 


two  adjuncts  and  a  municipal  council, 
composed  of  ten  members.  The  follow 
ing  list  of  officers  was  published:  Etienue 
Bore,  Mayor;  Pierre  Derbigny,  Secre 
tary;  Destrehan,  First  Adjunct;  Sauve, 
Second  Adjunct;  Livaudais,  Petit  Cave- 
lier,  Villere,  Johns,  Michel  Fortier,  Don 
aldson,  Faurie,  Allard,  Tureaud  and 
John  Watkins,  members  of  the  Municipal 
Council.  Labatut  was  appointed  Treas 
urer.  Bellechasse  was  appointed  Colonel, 
and  was  given  command  of  the  militia 
of  New  Orleans.  One  of  the  officers  of 
the  milita  was  Charles  Anastase  Gayarre, 
grandson  of  the  Royal  Contador  (Comp 
troller),  and  father  of  the  late  Charles 
Gayarre,  the  historian. 


ETIENNE    DE    BORE, 

First    Mayor   of  New   Orleans. 

Etieune  de  Core,  first  Mayor  of  .New 
Orleans,  and  acting  in  that  capacity  at 
the  time  the  province  of  Louisiana  wad 
transferred  to  the  United  States,  was 
a  wealthy  sugar  planter  living  about  six 


ETIENNE    DE    BORE. 


miles  above  the  city  of  New  Orleans,  on 
the  same  .side  of  the  river.  Mr.  De  Bore 
came  of  a  distinguished  Norman  family. 
He  was  born  in  1740  on  the  Illinois,  but 
was  taken  at  an  early  age  to  France. 
After  the  completion  of  his  education  he 
entered  the  Royal  Mousqnetaires,  or 
troops  of  the  King's  household.  After 
his  marriage  he  returned  to  Louisiana, 
and  e'ngaged.in  planting.  Like  most  ot 
the  planters  of  Louisiana,  he  devoted 
himself  to  the  cultivation  of  indigo.  Hur 
ricanes  and  overflows,  however,  had 
much  diminished  his  fortune,  and  in  ad 
dition,  an  insect  appeared,  which  at 
tacked  the  indigo  plant,  and  destroyed 


it.  Ruin  stared  him,  and  the  other 
planters,  in  the  face. 

The  manufacture  of  sugar  had  been 
abandoned  since  1766  as  impossible  in 
the  climate,  and  only  a  few  now  planted 
cane,  to  be  sold  as  a  delicacy  in  the 
market,  or  boiled  into  sugar  or  made 
into  a  kind  of  rum  called  tafia.  Bore 
attempted  a  decisive  stroke,  by  risking 
what  was  left  of  his  fortune,  and  tried 
once  more  sugar-making.  His  wife  and 
his  friends  remonstrated  in  vain.  He 
purchased  seed  cane,  planted  it,  and  got 
ready  for  grinding  and  boiling.  On  the 
day  when  sugar-making  was  to  begin, 
a  large  number  of  neighbors  and  friends 
assembled -in  and  about  the  sugar-house 
watching  with  anxiety  the  success  or 
failure  of  the  experiment.  "Would  the 
syrup  granulate?"  "Would  it  make 
sugar  or  not?"  The  moment  came,  ine 
sugar  boiler  tested  again  and  again.  "It 
granulates,"  he  called  out.  "It  granu 
lates/'  repeated  the  crowd  in  the  sugar 
house. 

Thus  was  the  first  successful  attempt 
at  sugar-making  due  to  the  perseverance 
nnd  courage  of  M.  Etienne  de  Bore. 


Buildings     of     Centennial     Fume. 

THE    ST.    LOUIS   CATHEDRAL. 

The  first  edifice  was  called  the  i'drisn 
Church  of  St.  Louis.  It  was  a  structure 
of  wood  and  adobe,  and  was  built  oy 
I'.ienville  shortly  after  he  founded  the 
city.  That  primitive  structure  was  de 
stroyed  in  a  fearful  hurricane  which 
visited  this  city  in  1723.  A  new  church 
was  built  of  brick  in  1724,  and  it  was 
consumed  in  the  memorable  tire,  which 
on  Good  Friday,  March  21,  1788,  burned 
nearly  the  entire  city.  That  conflagra 
tion  was  so  disastrous  that  the  colonists 
could  not  rebuild  the  church,  and  it  was 
at  this  crisis  that  Don  Andres  Almonas- 
ter  y  Roxas  erected,  at  his  own  expense, 
a  church  for  New  Orleans  on  condition, 
thai  a  mass  be  said  every  Sunday,  in 
perpetuity,  for  the  repose  of  his  soul. 
He  built  the  church  at  a  cost  of  $<JO,OUU. 
The  design  was  of  the  usual  heavy  Span 
ish  style,  Avith  three  round  towers  ill 
front,  like  the  church  buildings  erected 
in  Mexico  and  South  America  by  the 
Spaniards.  In  1703,  when  New  Orleans- 
was  detached  from  the  Diocese  of  Ha 
vana,  and  erected  into  a  distinct  Episco 
pal  See,  the  beautiful  church  was  raised 
to  the  dignity  of  a  cathedral.  In  1851 
the  building  was  remodeled,  and  steeples 
were  added  to  the  towers.  The  facade 
was  considerably  changed.  The  present 
portico,  with  its  columns  and  pilasters, 
dates  from  that  time.  In  18U2  the  in 
terior  was  elaborately  frescoed  with  por-, 
traits  of  saints  awd  Biblical  scenes.  Be 
neath,  the  main  altar  is  a  large  crypt,  in 
which  many  of  the  ancient  prelates,  <m<3 


. . 33 . . 


some  of  the  latter-day  archbishops  are 
buried.  Several  distinguished  person 
ages  of  colonial  times  are  buried  under 
the  side  altars.  Don  Andres  Almonaster 
y  Roxas,  founder  of  the  Cathedral,  sleeps 
Tinder  St.  Joseph's  altar,  and  several 
members  of  the  Mandeville  de  Marigiiy 
family  repose  in  a  crypt  under  the  altar 
of  Mary. 

Many  notable  events  have  taken  place 
in  the  Cathedral.  Bishop  Dubourg  cele 
brated  the  solemn  high  mass  in  thanks 
giving  for  the  victory  of  General  Jack 
son  over  the  British  at  Chalmette.  It 
was  attended  by  General  Jackson  and 
his  soldiers,  and  at  the  close  a  "Te 
Deum"  was  sung.  The  anniversary  or 
the  centennial  of  the  Cathedral,  in  April, 
1893,  was  a  memorable  event,  and  was 
attended  by  all  the  bishops  and  arch 
bishops  of  the  Louisiana  purchase  ter 
ritory;  all  the  priests  of  the  diocese,  the 
Governor  of  the  State;  the  members  of 
the  State  Supreme  and  city  courts,  the 
foreign  consuls,  the  military,  etc. 
Another  imposing  occasion  was  in  1895, 
when,  for  the  first  time  in  American 
history,  two  cardinals  united  at  the  offer 
ing  of  the  pontifical  high  mass,  which 
marked  the  opening  of  the  Catholic 
Winter  School.  The  most  recent  event 
was  the  joint  consecration  on  July  2, 
1899,  of  the  Archbishop  of  Santiago  cle 
Cuba,  and  the  Bishop  of  Porto  Kico,  the 
first  appointed  to  these  ancient  Sees 
after  the  close  of  the  Spanish-American 
War.  The  St.  Louis  Presbytery,  which 
adjoins  the  Cathedral,  is  also  an  ancient 
bxiilding. 

The  other  building,  like  the  Cabildo,  on 
the  St.  Ann  Street  side  of  the  church, 
is  occupied  now  by  the  Civil  District 
Courts.  It  was  formerly  the  monastery 
of  the  Capuchin  monks. 

JACKSON   SQUARE   OR   "PLACE 

D'ARMES." 

This  also  is  a  historic  spot.  It  was 
originally  called  the  ''Place  d'Armes," 
or  rendezvous  an.d  parade  ground  for 
the  troops,  \\hen  the  Jackson  equestrian 
statute,  which  now  adorns  it,  was  placed, 
the  name  of  the  victor  of  Chalmette  was 
given  to  the  square.  On  the  spot  oc 
cupied  by  the  statue,  there  upraised  m 
olden  times  a  huge  flagstaff  from  which, 
in  turn,  the  colors  of  France,  Spain  and 
the  United  States  were  unfurled  in  the 
breeze.  It  was  in  the  "Place  d'Armes  ' 
that  Don  Ulloa  received  the  keys  of  the 
city,  and  took  possession  of  Louisiana, 
in  the  name  of  the  King  of  Spain,  In 
1760.  There  met  the  band  of  patriots 
under  Lafreniere  to  renounce  the  au 
thority  of  Spain,  and  declare  the  inde 
pendence  of  Louisiana.  It  was  in  th*» 
same  "Place  d'Armes"  that  Don  Ber 
nardo  de  Galvez.  one  of  the  most  heroic 
figures  in  Louisiana's  history,  first  ap 
peared  in  1779,  before  a  great'  meeting  of 
citizens,  and  won  their  hearts.  Though 
"but  a  youth  of  21,  he  held  a  commission 
as  Captain  General  and  Governor  of  the 
province,  but  he  told  the  citizens  that 
he  would  not  accept  the  office'  without 
their  consent,  and  loyalty.  They  con 


firmed  his  appointment  with  enthusi 
asm,  and  from  the  same  spot  he  led 
an  army  of  1,500  young  Creoles  against 
the  British.  The  two  long  rows  of  brick 
buildings  on  eacE  side  of  the  "Place 
d'Armes"  were  erected  early  in  the 
nineteenth  century,  by  the  Baroness  de 
Pontalba.  daughter  of  Don  Andres 
Almonaster  y  Roxas,  and  are  still  owned 
by  her  descendants. 

THE    ARCHBISHOP'S    PALACE, 

in  whose  parlors  are  to  be  exhibited  the 
curios  and  relics  of  colonial  days  during 
the  centennial  celebration,  and  for  sixty 
days  thereafter,  is  the  oldest  building 
in  Louisiana.  It  is  situated  on  Chartresi 
Street,  between  Ursuline  and  Hospital 
Streets.  Entrance  is  effected  through  a 
quaintly-constructed  portal  defended  by 
double  gates  piercing  the  wall  in  the 
middle  of  the  Chartres  Street  front.  The 
porter's  lodge  is  within  this  portal.  Tne 
buildings  face  a  srmcious  lawn. 

They  were  erected  between  1727  ana 
1734  for  the  use  of  the  Ursuline  .Nuns, 
who  came  from  France  at  Bienville's 
solicitation,  to  take  charge  of  the  mili 
tary  hospital.  Charity  Hospital,  and  con 
duct  a  school  for  girls. 

The  Nuns  resided  there  until  1824, 
when  they  removed  to  their  present 
domicile  in  the  lower  section  of  the  Third 
District  of  this  city. 

The  old  building  has  seen  various 
uses,  not  the  least  interesting  of  which 
is  that  in  1831  it  was  the  State  Capitol, 
and  the  Legislature  held  its  sessions 
within  its \walls.  The  building  was,  at 
that  time,  leased  by  the  State  of  Louisi 
ana  from  the  Ursuline  Nuns.  Shortly 
afterward,  the  lease  having  expired,  the 
Nuns  presented  the  building  to  the 
archbishops  of  New  Orleans  as  a  resi 
dence.  It  was  so  used  until  1899,  when 
a  number  of  the  Catholic  clergy  and  laity 
purchased  the  Slocomb  residence  on 
Esplanade  Avenue,  and  St.  Claude  Street, 
and  presented  it  to  Archbishop  Chapelle. 

The  historic  site  is,  however,  retained 
as  the  office  of  the  archdiocese,  and  for 
the  meetings  of  the  clergy,  and  also  the 
office  of  the  Chancellor  of  the  Arclv 
diocese. 

The-  old  building  is  fast  going  into  de 
cay,  but  it  still  exhibits  massive  strength. 
The  ancient  staircase  is  a  remarkable 
piece  of  work.  Each  step  is  a  solid  piece 
of  timber  deeply  worn  by  the  ceaseless 
tread  of  many  generations.  The  chapel 
contains  a  little  oratory  and  shrine.  The 
reception  room  on  the  lower  floor,  in 
which  the  Colonial  Museum  will  exhibit, 
is  "beautifully  paneled  in  cypress,  ana 
contains  a  curious  old  clock.  The  shut 
ters  of  cypress,  over  the  main  entrance, 
are  over  100  year  old,  and  are  still 
perfectly  sound.  On  the  third  floor  of 
the  building  are  the  narrow  and  curious 
ly-built  little  cells  used  by  the  Ursuline 
Nuns  nearly  two  hundred  years  ago,  and 
the  ancient  desk  of  oak,  in  the  commu 
nity  room,  at  which  the  superioress  sat, 
when  the  Nuns  met  for  meditation,  in 
struction,  and  prayer.  In  the  building 
are  preserved  the  archives  of  the  diocese. 
There  also  may  be  seen  the  portraits  of 
all  the  bishops  of  New  Orleans,  and  the 
archbishops  from  Monseigneur  Penalver 
to  Archbishop  Chapelle. 


.34.. 


ALMOST     THE     ENTIRE     TOWN     DE 
STROYED. 

In  the  manuscript  of  Chevalier  Guy 
Soniat  Du  Fossat,  (1751-1794)  translated 
from  French  into  English,  by  Hon.  Chas. 
T.  Soniat,  appears  the  following  account 
of  the  big  fire  in  New  Orleans  in  1788: 

CONFLAGRATION  OF  NEW  ORLEANS. 

on  Good  Friday  of  the  year  1788,  a 
fire  was  caused  by  the  negligence  of  a 
woman  who  thought  of  crowning  her  de 
votion  by  making  a  small  altar  in  her 
house.  She  left  several  candles  burning 
around  it  and  went  off  to  take  her  din 
ner.  During  her  absence  a  candle  fell 
on  some  ornaments,  which  took  fire,  ana 
the  house  in  an  instant  was  in  flames, 
which  communicated  to  the  adjoining 
house,  and  the  wind,  which  was  strong 
at  that  time,  spread  the  fire  to  the  bal 
ance  of  the  city,  which,  in  two  hours, 
was  consumed. 

The  powders  which  the  merchants  had 
in  their  stores  for  daily  use,  contributed 
largely  to  accelerate  the  conflagration, 
and  rendered  it  more  dangerous  to  those 
who  wanted  to  save  the  remaining  build 
ings.  It  would  be  difficult  to  depict  the 
despair  of  the  poor,  unfortunate  persons 
whose  properties  had  suffered  from  the 
fire;  these  unhappy  creatures,  who,  two 
hours  before,  enjoyed  vast  and  commo- 
dionS  lodgings,  with  enough  affluence  to 
make  oiie's  life  agreeable  and  easy,  saw 
themselves  and  their  children  in  a  mo 
ment  without  resource.  Some  of  the*r 
were  obliged  to  take  refuge  in  the 
woods,  without  necessary  provisions  and 
clothes.  Some  slept  without  cover  under 
the  broad  canopy  of  the  heavens.  It  was 
in  that  moment  of  necessity  that  tne 
tender  solicitude  of  M.  Miro,  Governor 
of  the  province,  showed  itself.  He 
opened  his  house  to  all  who  were  seek 
ing  shelter,  and  he  dispensed  succor 
to  the  distressed  families,  caused  the 
royal  stores,  which  had  escaped  the 
flames,  to  be  opened,  and  he  distributed 
the  provisions  therein  contained.  Re 
course  was  had  to  the  surrounding 
country  for  help;  permits  were  given 
to  vessels  to  bring  goods  from  abroad; 
in  short,  the  Governor  administered  as 
a  good  pater  familias  and  distributed 
that  which  he  had  gathered  in  the  colony 
in  order  to  support  his  numerous  people, 
and  he  succeeded  in  making  their  provis 
ions  last  up  to  the  arrival  of  the  relief 
from  Havana  and  St.  Domingo.  All 
these  cares  and  attentions  gave  the 
necessary  comfort  to  those  who  had 
lost  their  belongings,  but  could  not  place 
them  in  the  same  condition  they  were 
before.  Poverty  stared  them  in  the 
face,  and  these  conditions  Drought  al! 
the  inhabitants  to  a  state  of  consterna 


tion,  which  was  followed  by  the  death  of 
one-sixth  of  the  citizens. 

Governor  Miro,  grieved  by  so  many 
disasters,  tried  to  divert  their  attention 
and  to  alleviate  their  sorrows  by  his 
care  and  U7s  attention  and  his  purse. 
He  gave  balls  and  amusements  to  the  un 
fortunate  inhabitants  in  order  to  les 
sen  their,  sorrows  and  to  divert  their 
minds;  if  these  sad  and  memorable 
events  were  of  a  nature  to  be  forgotten. 
Eight  hundred  fine  and  commodious 
houses,  valued  on  an  average  at  $3.(JUU 
each,  were  destroyed  in  that  conflagra 
tion,  without  any  prospect  on  the  part 
of  the  owners  of  ever  recovering  any 
thing  except  perhaps  the  bare  hope  or 
recovering  some  day  some  relief  from 
the  King. 

WHAT  IS  MEANT  BY  CREOLE. 

In  that  same  work  of  Chevalier  Du 
Fossat  there  is  found  the  description  of 
the  Creoles  in  the  eighteenth  century. 
Much  dispute  has  been  going  on  among 
philologists  as  to  the  real  meaning  of 
"Creole."  Tne  Chevalier  says: 

PORTRAIT    OF     THE     CREOLE. 

After  having  spoken  of  Louisiana  and 
of  its  soil,  we  ought  to  say  something 
of  the  Creoles  who  inhabit  it;  and  next, 
of  the  savages,  and  products  of.  the 
country. 

Creoles  are  defined  to  be  "the  chil 
dren  of  Europeans  born  in  the  colony." 
They,  in  general,  measure  about  flve 
feet  six  inches  in  height;  they  are  all 
well  shaped,  and  of  agreeable  figure; 
they  are  lively,  alert  and  agile,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  great  heat  of  this 
climate,  are  laborious.  They  are  born 
with  ambition,  and  an  honest  self-esteem. 
They  are  endowed  with  a  natural  dispo 
sition  for  all  sciences,  arts  and  exercises 
that  amuse  society.  They  excel  in  danc 
ing,  fencing,  hunting  and  in  horseman 
ship.  Nature  has  favored  them  with  a 
penetrating  and  active  mind,  and  they 
are  capable  of  being  easily  instructed. 
The  lack  of  teachers  renders  their  edu 
cation  somewhat  incomplete,  and  it  must 
be  said,  in  all  justice,  that  among  the 
many  qualities  which  they  possess  are 
politeness.  oravery  and  benevolence. 
They  are  good  fathers,  good  friends  and 
good  kinsmen. 

The  women,  besides  having  the  quali 
ties  above  enumerated,  are  agreeable  in 
figure,  and  seldom  deformed.  They  make 
good  mothers,  and  are  devoted  to  their 
husbands  and  their  children;  and  in  their 
marital  relations  seldom  are  they  un 
faithful.  I  must  also  add.  that  the 
stranger  arriving  in  this  wild  and  savage 
country  will  be  surprised  to  see  in  thi 
capital,  as  exist  in  all  countries  ov. 
Europe,  brilliant  assemblies  where  polite 
ness,  amiability  and  gayety  reign  su 
preme. 


ADDENDA. 


MISS  GRACE    KING 

the  gifted  writer,  has  been  and  still-  is  the  secretary  of  the 
Louisiana  Historical  Society.  Her  name  is  mentioned  as  such 
on  page  21  of  this  booklet;  but  on  page  2.S,  under  the  photo 
graph  of  Mr.  Chas.  G.  Gill,  the  words  "Secretary,  Louisiana 
Historical  Society"  should  be  preceded  by  the  word  "Assistant," 
because  the  designation  of  secretary  belongs  by  right  to  Miss  King, 
of  whom  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society  is  justly  proud. 


(Owing  to  the  receipt  of  the  copy  too  late  for  insertion  in  the 
book  it  was  much  regretted  that  the  brilliant  Colonial  Ball  was 
unavoidably  omitted  from  the  first  edition.  It  is  inserted  in  the 
second  edition,  with  sincere  apologies  to  the  ladies.) 

JAMES  M.    AUGUSTIN. 


THE   COLONIAL   BALL   A 
BRILLIANT  EVENT. 


Three  Countries  Join  in  the  Function,   Which  Was 
Carefully  Planned  and  Successfully  Con= 
ducted   in   All   Its   Details. 


Nothing  in  the  history  of  brilliant  func 
tions,  at  least  those  within  the  memory  of 
the  present  generation,  could  have  excelled 
the  animated  scene  that  was  presented  'n 
the  French  Opera  House  on  the  night  of 
December  18,  1903,  when,  with  the  first 
burst  of  the  march  music  from  the  or 
chestra,  cunningly  hidden  behind  a  screen 
of  flowers  and  ferns,  on  the  stage,  there 
trooped  down  from  the  foyer  to  the  par- 
quette  entrance  a  procession  of  beautiful 
women  clad  in  the  costly  and  richly  em 
broidered  dresses  of  the  first  years  of  the 
nineteenth  century.  The  glittering,  bejew- 
eled  array  of  fascinating  ladies  was  pre 
ceded  by  a  distinguished  vanguard  of  honor, 
Governor  Heard  and  Ambassador  Jusseraud, 
Mayor  Capdevielle  and  the  Spanish  Consul, 
Senor  Tuero  y  O'Donnell.  Then  came  the 

COUPLES  IN  Tin-:  MARCH. 
Admiral    Wise   and   Mrs.    W.   C.     C.     Clai- 
borne. 

Ex-Governor  Francis  and  Mrs.  R.  T. 
Beauregard. 

Commander  Lean  on  ge.  of  the  French 
cruiser  Jurien  de  la  Graviere,  and  Mrs. 
O.  O.  Provosty. 

Captain  Marix.  of  the  United  States 
cruiser  Minneapolis,  and  Mrs.  James  Hulde. 

Captain  Veeder.  of  the  Hartford,  and 
Miss  Amelie  Denegre. 

Captain  Wilner,  of  the  Topeka,  and  Mrs. 
Wm.  Preston  Johnston. 

Captain  Heilmer,  of  the  Yankee,  and  Miss 
Emma  Zacharie. 

Judge  Ronthier,  of  Ottawa,  Canada,  and 
Mrs.  George  Denegre. 

Hon.  Pierre  Richard.  Consul  General  of 
France,  and  Mrs.  C.  E.  Fenner. 

Captain  Merrell.  United  States  Naval 
Commandant,  and  Miss  Kate  McCall. 

That  march  was  part  2  of  the  pro 
gramme  of  musical  numbers,  the  first  part 
of  which  consisted  of  selections  from  the 
old  masters  (17.39  to  1800). 

The  promenade  ended  when  the  stage  was 
reached,  and  the  guests  were  received  by  a 
number  of  ladies  of  the  Society,  and  asso 
ciated  ladies,  the  other  portion  of  the  gen 
eral  committee  acting  as  escort  to  the  party 
of  prominent  invites. 

During  all  of  this  first  and  second  part 
of  the  programme,  while  the  minuet  and 


the  gavotte  (dances  of  the  last  century) 
were  being  danced,  ladies  not  in  1803  cos 
tumes  were  not  allowed  on  the  dancing 
floor. 

The  minuet  was  admirably 

DANCED    HY    FIFTY-TWO   COUPLES, 
who   had   been   carefully   trained   under  the 
direction     of     (be      Indies      composing     the 
Minuet  Committee. 

All  of  the  young  ladies  were  dressed  in 
white  with  ornaments  and  gauze  and  scarfs 
of  colors. 

The  couples  in  the  minuet  were  : 

DANCERS   IN  THE  MINUET. 

Miss  Marthe  Andry  and  Mr.  Tom 
Lanaux. 

Miss  Marie  Bernard  and  Mr.  James 
Campbell. 

Miss  Mina  Bernard  and  Mr.   Ben  Crump. 

Miss  Nina  Burthe  and  Mr.  Chas.  Cou- 
turie. 

Miss  Lauve  Boa u regard  and  Mr.  Blanc 
Monroe. 

Miss  Marguerite  Beauregard  and  Mr. 
Koch  Chalaron. 

Miss  Edith  Buckner  and  Mr.  W.  Leverich. 

Miss  Beulah  Butler  and  Mr.  II.  Shears. 

Miss  Mathelde  A.  Bailey  and  Mr.  Gaston 
Becnel. 

Miss  Jeanne  Correjolles  and  Mr.  A.  Robe- 
lot. 

Miss  Amelie  Chiapella  and  Mr.  Sidney 
Moreno. 

Miss  Lauro  Chiapella  and  Mr.  Arthur 
Moreno. 

Miss  L.  Chalaron  and  Mr.  Chas.  Rey 
nolds. 

Miss  Amelie  Claiborne  and  Mr.  Martin 
Matthews. 

Miss  Haydee  Cruzat  and  Mr.  Jas.  Straw- 
bridge. 

Miss  Loulou  Delery  and  Dr.  Paul  de  Ver 
ges. 

Miss  Cora  De  Verges  and  Mr.  Rene 
Freret. 

Miss  Stephanie  De  Verges  and  Mr.  Emile 
Blanchard. 

Miss  Corinne  Duplantier  and  Mr.  James 
Ferry. 

Miss  Claire  I  Micros  and  Mr.  John  Plaucne. 

Miss  Bertie  Delery  and  Mr.  Walton 
Robertson. 


BANQUET  TO  THE  RIO  DE  LA  PLATA. 


(This  banquet  ha  vino-  been  given  after  the  close  of  the  Centennial  Celebra 
tion,  under  special  circumstances,  as  the  Spanish  cruiser  came  too  late  to  be  a 
participant  in  the  proceedings,  it  is  <>-iven  a  place  in  this  book  as  a  compliment 
to  our  Spanish  guests.) 

J.    M.    AUGUSTIN. 


Historical  Banquet  Under  Three  Flags 

THE  LOUISIANA  SOCIETY,  HOST  AT  THE  RECENT  PUR 
CHASE  CENTENIAL,  CELEBRATION 

Entertained  the  Officers  of  the   Spanish,  French  and  American 
Men- of- War  at  a  Memorable  Christmas  Feast. 


The  United  States.  France  and  Spain 
fraternized  on  the  night  of  December  25, 
1(.n.:;.  through  their  respective  representa 
tives,  at  the  banquet  given  by  the  Louisi 
ana  Historical  Society,  at  Antoine's  Res 
taurant.  in  honor  of  the  Captain  and  of 
ficers  of  the  Spanish  cruiser  Rio  de  la 
I'hua.  Those  present  and  who  took  part, 
cither  in  speech  or  tacitly,  in  the  memor 
able  gathering  will  have  their  names  in 
scribed  on  one  •  of  the  brightest  pnges  of 
the  history  of  Louisiana,  giving  the  con 
cluding  record  of  the  celebration  of  the 
lirst  centennial  of  this  State  as  one  of  the 
radiant  stars  in  the  firmament  of  the 
American  Union.  The  Louisiana  Historical 
Society,  whose  successful  commemoration 
of  the  one-hundredth  anniversary  of  the 
transfer  of  Louisiana  was  closed  by  this 
banquet,  now  stands  not  only  before  the 
people  of  the  United  States,  but  before  the 
whole  world  as  having  accomplished  a  task 
in  a  manner  reflecting  credit  and  honor 
on  the  gentlemen  who  undertook  it,  and 
thus  giving  most  of  that  honor  and  glory 
to  their  own  State  and  people. 

Xo  other  occasion  than  the  centennial 
of  a  sovereign  State  could  have  caused 
the  assembling  together  of  such  a  notable 
army  of  distinguished  personalities  as 
those  who  sat  that  night  in  that  upper 
room  in  the  Restaurant  Antoine.  which, 
by  the  way,  is  one  of  the  landmarks  of 
this  city  and  State,  having  been  founded 
in  1840  by  Antoine  Alciatore,  father  of 
the  present  proprietor,  mine  host  Jules. 

PRESIDENT  FORTIER 


the  guests,  and  said  he  was 
happy  indeed  to  bring  the  representatives 
of  France  and  of  Spain  together  to  meet 
tne  representative  of  the  United  States  ar, 
a  banquet  given  in  honor  of  the  Captain 
•md  officers  of  the  Spanish  Navy.  These 


Ibree  governments  having  at  successive 
epochs  dominated  over  Louisiana,  it  was 
eminently  proper  that  these  representa 
tives,  on  this  first  centennial  celebration, 
should  be  sitting  at  the  same  table,  eu 
joying  the  hospitalities  of  the  Louisiana 
Historical  Society. 

President  Fortier  recalled  the  historical 
Spanish  names  of  governors  and  public 
men  in  Louisiana,  and  remarked  that  their 
names  hav»  been  commemorated  in  this 
city  by  the  nomenclature  of  her  streets. 

In  conclusion,  he  drank  to  the  health  o/ 
rhe  King  of  Spain,  and  repeated  the  toast 
in  Spanish. 

HON.    TUERO    Y    O'DONNELL, 

Consul  of  Spain, 'and  specially  designated 
to  represent  his  Government  at  the  cele 
bration  of  the  Centennial,  replied  ns  fol 
lows  : 

The  incalculable  benefits  secured,  and, 
it  might  as  well  be  frankly  and  graciously 
admitted,  yet  to  accrue,  not  alone  to  this 
country,  but  to  the  world  at  large, 
through  the  acquisition  by  the  United 
States  Government  from  that  of  France  a 
century  ago  of  the  vast  tract  of  land  then 
known  as  the  Louisiana  Territory,  have 
been  so  appropriately  and  eloquently  ex 
patiated  upon  already  by  experienced  ora 
tors,  who,  besides,  enjoyed  the  advantage 
of  using  their  own  native  tongue  in  which 
to  communicate  their  sentiments  and 
thoughts  in  that  connection,  that,  really. 
Mr.  President  and  members  of  the  Louisi 
ana  Historical  Society,  it  is  with  a  deep 
sense  of  diffidence  and  backwardness  that  i 
venture,  once  more  to-night,  to  have  my 
own  poor  words  enlarge  the  chorus  of  gen 
uine  congratulation  that  is  due  you  at  the 
gorgeous  and  unprecedented  success  which 
so  deservedly  has  crowned  your  patriotic 
initiative  and  masterfully  directed  exer- 


tions  toward  bringing  about  the  now 
never-to-be-forgotten  commemoration  of 
that  historical  event,  so  fraught  yet  with 
still  more  bountiful  consequences  for  this 
land  through  the  unborn  years  of  the 
future. 

However,  I  hope  I  may  not  be  wrong 
in  judging,  not  only  that  it  is  out  of  ques 
tion,  but  would  be  considered  altogether 
out  of  place  for  me  to  indulge  here  in  any 
long-stretched  and  elaborate  dissertation  or 
in  any  attempt  at  an  academical  discourse, 
as  it  were,  since,  as  I  understand  it,  this 
distinguished  concourse  has  been  called  to 
gether  more  with  the  object  of  achieving  a 
social  gathering  and  in  the  spirit  of  a 
mutual  fraternization  of  the  different  ele 
ments  here  assembled,  than  with  any  idea 
or  desire  of  having  well-beaten  ground 
gone  over  again. 

Therefore,  under  the  circumstances,  you 
will  kindly  permit,  gentlemen,  that  I  cut 
short  my  remarks.  I  shall  not  do  so, 
though',  without  first,  and  in  the  name  and 
on  behalf  of  the  Government  which  I  have 
the  honor  to  represent  in  these  hospitable 
parts,  as  well  as  in  the  name  and  on  be 
half  of  the  Commander,  officers  and  crew 
of  the  Spanish  cruiser  Rio  de  la  Plata, 
and  on  my  own  personal  account,  too,  with 
out  first,  I  say,  offering  you,  even  if  ex 
pressed  in  inadequate  terms,  our  unreserved 
assurance  of  keen  appreciation  of  the  many 
marks  of  consideration  of  which  we  have 
been  the  object  at  the  hands  of  your  Na 
tional,  State  and  city  authorities,  and  last, 
but  certainly  not  least,  at  those  of  the 
Commander  and  officers  of  the  American 
fleet  here  in  port. 

And  to  you  also,  Mr.  President  and 
members  of  the  Louisiana  Historical  So 
ciety,  are  fairly  due  and  hence  heartily 
tendered  our  choicest  sentiment  of  thank 
fulness  and  like  appreciation  for  this  de 
lightful  reception  to  the  Spanish  cruiser 
Rio  de  la  Plata,  despite  its  late  arrival 
upon  the  scene  of  our  recent  festivities 
over  the  event  commemorated,  which  tar 
diness,  however,  was  entirely  caused  by 
conditions  controlled  by  Force  Majeure. 

Permit  me,  also,  gentlemen,  that  I  here 
take  occasion  to  formulate  a  vow  which 
rises  to  my  lips  from  the  innermost  sin 
cerity  of  my  soul.  Would  to  God  that 
this  auspicious  assemblage,  at  a  banquet 
table  under  one  roof,  and  especially  on 
Christmas  Day,  of  the  representative  ele 
ments  of  different  nations  on  a  footing  of 
the  most  open  congeniality,  might  but 
prove  the  presaging  augury  of  a  long,  long 
reign  of  perfect  peace,  true  happiness  and 
full  prosperity  for  each  of  these  nations, 
respectively. 

ADMIRAL    WISE 

responded  to  the  toast  "The  President, 
and  the  Army  and  Navy  of  the  United 
States." 

The  Admiral  said  he  was  very  grateful, 
indeed,  for  the  cordial  reception  that  has 
been  accorded  the  Navy  of  the  United 
States,  and  himself,  as  representing  the 
United  States  Government.  He  promised 
to  give  a  good  account  of  the  Louisiana 
Historical  Society  when  he  will  attend  the 
celebration  by  the  Virginia  Historical  So 
ciety  of  the  three  hundredth  anniversary 
of  the  founding  of  Jamestown.  Va. 

"In  China,"  said  the  Admiral,  "when  a 
great  man  dies,  his  people  make  a  terrible 
din  with  guns,  drums,  fireworks  and  the 


like  so  as  to  notify  the  spirits  in  the 
other  world  that  a  great  personage  has 
gone  to  join  them.  When  the  two  hun 
dredth  anniversary  of  the  Transfer  of 
Louisiana  shall  be  celebrated.  I  hope  tnere 
will  be  a  Louisiana  Historical  Society  to 
make  enough  noise  so  that  we  will  know 
that  it  is  still  on  deck." 

"France"   was  responded  to  by 

HON.  PIERRE  RICHARD, 
Consul  General  of  France.  Mr.  Richard 
said  it  was  possible  that  these  centennial 
festivities  are  concluded.  The  gentlemen 
of  the  Louisiana  Historical  Society  have 
done  admirably.  They  were  eminently  right 
in  giving  the  banquet  in  honor  of  the 
Spanish  officers,  whose  country  played  such 
an  important  role  in  the  early  nistory  of 
Louisiana.  France  is  also  represented  here. 
Was  she  not  the  grandmother,  so  to  speak, 
of  the  people  of  Louisiana?  Are  they  not 
right,  those  gallant  Franco-Louisianians,  to 
preserve  in  their  hearts  some  love  for 
France,  some  regard  for  Laussat,  the 
Colonial  Prefect  who  helped  to  transfer 
Louisiana  to  the  United  States.  And,  in 
keeping  an  indefaceable  souvenir  of  the 
mother  country,  they  can  be,  at  the  same 
time,  loyal  American  citizens.  Frenchmen 
and  Americans  will  always  be  friends  and 
brothers.  They  are  citizens  of  the  great 
Republic  of  the  United  States  and  of  the 
prosperous  Republic  of  France.  May  the 
friendship  of  these  two  nations  be  ever 
lasting ;  and  may  the  flags  of  the  United 
States  and  Spain  and  France  always  float 
side  by  side,  glorious  emblems  of  concord 
and  of  civilization. 

President  Fortier  said  that  Governor 
Heard  had  sent  regrets  that  he  could  not 
come.  Archbishop  Chapelle  also  sent  re 
grets. 

THE  TOAST  TO  LOUISIANA 

was  replied  to  by  Lieutenant  Governor 
Estopinal.  He  said  that  Louisiana  is  proud 
of  her  history,  which  has  been  largely 
made  up  by  France  and  Spain  until  the 
United  States  acquired  the  territory  ..in 
1803.  Louisianians  do  feel  sympathy  and 
love  for  the  country  of  their  ancestors. 
He  wished  the  gallant  representatives  of 
France,  Spain  and  the  United  States  the 
fullest  success  in  all  their  missions. 

Captain  Newbill,  U.  S.  A.,  replied  to  the 
sentiment,  "The  Navy  of  the  United 
States."  lie  said  that  Louisiana  was  so 
charming  that  people  could  not  call  her 
"Louisiana."  but  said  "Lou,"  for  short. 

MAYOR    CAPDEVIELLE 

spoke  for  the  City  of  New  Orleans,  and 
warmly  welcomed  the  distinguished 
guests.  He  hoped  that  they  would  return 
for  the  Carnival.  The  Mayor  drank  to  the 
prosperity  of  the  Louisiana  Historical  So 
ciety,  which,  he  said,  has  given  the  most 
successful  celebration  ever  given  in  the 
City  of  New  Orleans,  and.  as  Mayor,  he 
thanked  the  Society  for  having  so  well  done 
its  work. 

Very  appropriate  addresses  were  made  by 
General  Meyer,  Associate  Justice  Breaux, 
Messrs.  Sevilla.  Claiborne.  Gill,  Dymoml. 
Denegre.  Thompson.  Ficklen.  Cusachs, 
Waguespack,  Glvnn.  Zacharie  and  James 
M.  Augustin,  the  latter  speaking  for  the 
press  of  New  Orleans. 

Captain  Pmg-Marcel  made  a  very 
neatly-worded  address  of  thanks,  in  Span 
ish.  Captain  Lemogne  expressed  similar 


thoughts  in  French,  and  Captains  Veeder. 
Marix,  Heilner  and  Merrell.  speaking  fei 
the  Array  and  Navy,  eulogized  New  Or 
leans  and  her  hospitable  people,  ard  spoke 
in  glowing  terms  of  the  Carnival  pagJ- 
trnts. 

CAPTAIN   MERRELL 

remarked  that  his  being  stationed  in  New 
Oi-lears  causss  him  to  be  envied  by  ever? 
Captain  in  the  Navy.  New  Orleans  is  a 
continuous  carnival 

Captain  Lemogne's  speech  was  the  lai-t 
He  said  : 

•Me  cede  aux  pressantes  solicitations, 
de  M.  le  President,  pour  dire  quelques 
mots  (JUT  cloront  la  serie  des  dlscours. 
J'em.porrerai  avec  moi  un  ineffacable  sou 
venir  de  mon  sejour  a  la  Nouvelle  Or 
leans.  M.  le  President,  je  ne  dirai  pas 
adieu,  mais  -au  revoir.  Les  officiers  du 
.Turien  de  la  Graviere  pensent  comme 
moi." 

This  means  in  English  : 

"I  yield  to  the  pressing  request  of  the 
President,  and  will  say  a  few  words  to 
close  the  series  of  speeches.  1  will  take 
with  me  to  France  an  imperishable  re 
membrance  of  New  Orleans,  Mr.  Presi 
dent,  and  I  will  not  say  adieu,  but  au 
revoir.  The  officers  of  the  Jurien  de  la 
Graviere  feel  as  I  do." 

Perhaps  not  in  a  hundred  years  will 
there  be  seen  at  the  same  table  such  emi 
nent  representatives  of 

FRANCE.    SPAIN   AND  THE   UNITED 
STATES 

as  were  together  that  night. 

The  guests  and  the  members  of  the 
Louisiana  Historical  Society  were  as 
follows  : 


Rear  Admiral  W.  C.  Wise,  U.  S.  N.. 
commanding  United  States  ship  Min 
neapolis  ;  Captain  Juan  Puig  Marcel, 
commanding  Spanish  cruiser  Kio  de  la 
Plata  ;  Captain  E.  Lemogne,  commanding 
the  French  cruiser  Jurien  de  la  Graviere : 
President  Alc6e  Fortier,  of  the  Louisiana 
Historical  Society;  Hon.  Paul  Capde- 
vlelle.  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  Orleans  : 
Hon.  Charles  F.  Claiborhe,  Hon.  Pierre 
Richard,  Consul  General  of  France ;  Hon. 
Txiero  y  O'Donnell.  Spanish  Consul  ;  Hon. 
Albert  Estopinal.  Lieutenant  Governor  of 
Louisiana  :  Captain  Marix,  U.  S.  N.,  Ar- 
sonio  Ko.ji,  James  de  Sabat.  Antonio  Gas 
con,  of  the  Spanish  cruiser ;  Willard 
Douglas  Newbill,  Captain,  U.  S.  A.  :  John 
P.  Merrell,  Captain,  U.  S.  N.  :  Jose  M. 
P.arrera,  Captain,  second  in  command,  01 
the  Spanish  cruiser ;  General  Adolph 
Meyer,  M.  C.  ;  Jose  del  Romero,  of  the 
Spanish  cruiser ;  Jorge  Sarbastia,  Gaye- 
tano  Tejer,  of  the  Spanish  cruiser :  T.  E. 
De  Witt  Veeder,  Commander,  U.  S.  N., 
commanding  United  States  ship  Hart 
ford  ;  Associate  Justice  Jos.  A.  lireaux,  of 
the  Louisiana  Supreme  Court  ;  J.  W. 
Cruzat,  Jorge  Benhastro,  L.  C.  Heilner, 
Captain  commanding  United  States  ship 
Yankee;  Felix  J.  Puig,  James  I).  Hill. 
J.  A.  Hoogewerff,  Hill  Dombaugh,  John 
Dymond.  John  R.  Ficklen.  Henry  M.  Gill, 
Jos.  M.  Esteve,  Wm.  H.  Seymour.  George 
Koppel,  Alfred  P.  Livaudais,  Louis  G.  Le 
Beuf,  M.  D.,  Bus.  Rouen,  Henry  Renshaw, 
Hon.  Charles  T.  Soniat,  P.  M.  Westfeldt. 
James  M.  Augustin,  George  Lloyd-Seese. 
General  John  Glynn.  Jr..  Walter  D. 
Denegre.  James  II.  Reid.  W.  J.  Wagues- 
pack.  Frank  Woodruff  Kellogg.  T.  P. 
Thompson. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


1    ' 

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LOAN  DEPT. 

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REG  u  LD 

nmt 

OCT  1  4  1999 

JANl5'6A-i 

.-.-J/MBB 

,/  -I   "7  'jZ^/l      CL  D^' 

*tf 

HOV  27\966 

STUD-  otJg 

Ci&ncrti\  T.ihrarv 

LD  21A-50m-8,'61 
(Cl795slO)476B 


University  of  California 
Berkeley 


Photomount 
Pamphlet 

Binder 
Gaylord  Bros. 

Makers 
Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

PAT.  JAN  21,  1808 


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